Simply Convivial: Organization & Mindset for Home & Homeschoolhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com
Short focus sessions for busy Christian moms who want to manage their homes & lives for the glory of God – and enjoy it, too! Organize your attitude, get stuff done, and love God.Fri, 24 May 2019 16:04:09 +0000en-UShourly1Organization is about your mindset, not your closets. No matter how tidy we keep our stuff, we'll still have to work to intentionally choose to do the right next thing. This podcast features quick tips and meaty bites that will help moms of all kinds (SAHM, WAHM &amp;amp;amp; WOHM) focus on what's actually important - sometimes that's cleaning the house, and sometimes it isn't.Mystie WincklercleanepisodicMystie Wincklermystie@mystiewinckler.commystie@mystiewinckler.com (Mystie Winckler)Simplified Organization LLCOrganize your attitude, learn to love what must be doneSimply Convivial: Organization & Mindset for Home & Homeschoolhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/simply-convivial-podcast.jpghttps://www.simplyconvivial.com
mystiewinckler@gmail.comTV-Gweekly66001072#094: Communication tips for teenshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc094/
Mon, 20 May 2019 16:38:10 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=130170https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc094/#respondhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc094/feed/0<p>Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me. Last year I read a fascinating marriage book by John Gottman. His is not a Christian marriage book, but he does have a reputation as a researcher who can accurately, within minutes, predict divorce or not based on listening to a … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc094/" aria-label="#094: Communication tips for teens">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc094/">#094: Communication tips for teens</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me.

Last year I read a fascinating marriage book by John Gottman. His is not a Christian marriage book, but he does have a reputation as a researcher who can accurately, within minutes, predict divorce or not based on listening to a couple’s interactions. I read the book out of curiosity, and the principles he teaches in his book, The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work, apply not only to marriage but to relationships more broadly as well.

Let’s dig in.

Original post:

As I read this book it dawned on me: This is how to form & strengthen adult-to-adult, respectful relationships. This is how to live together in love and good humor even if you don’t agree. That is what I need as a mom of teens. And if I have been doing so for seventeen years with my husband, I should be able to apply what I’ve practiced more broadly now.

Homemaking is complicated. It’s made up of so many moving pieces, all kinds of unpredictable people, and then ourselves. And we aren’t as awesome at handling it all as we thought we’d be or as we’d like to be.

We might need to give up on trying to be awesome, but we shouldn’t give up on trying to be faithful. Simply Convivial Membership is for women who want to grow in faithfulness, diligence, skill, and joy in it all, because all of life gives us opportunities to glorify God by loving others.

Every course, workshop, and troubleshooting session in Simply Convivial Membership helps you learn how to align your attitude with truth, audit your situation with realistic honesty, and iterate for gradual but sure progress. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more and join us for a month’s challenge, a quarter’s project, or an annual commitment to consistent growth. Simply Convivial Membership is all there, ready for you to use on your terms to serve your needs.

Access any and all courses at any time, in any order. Level up your homemaking and your homeschooling, one baby step at a time.

Find a community of likeminded women, working toward the same goal: learning to love what must be done.

Get support through ongoing conversation, help, and prompts to increase your skill and your motivation as we spur one another on to love and good works.

]]>Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me.
Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me.

Last year I read a fascinating marriage book by John Gottman. His is not a Christian marriage book, but he does have a reputation as a researcher who can accurately, within minutes, predict divorce or not based on listening to a couple’s interactions. I read the book out of curiosity, and the principles he teaches in his book, The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work, apply not only to marriage but to relationships more broadly as well.

As I read this book it dawned on me: This is how to form & strengthen adult-to-adult, respectful relationships. This is how to live together in love and good humor even if you don’t agree. That is what I need as a mom of teens. And if I have been doing so for seventeen years with my husband, I should be able to apply what I’ve practiced more broadly now.

Homemaking is complicated. It’s made up of so many moving pieces, all kinds of unpredictable people, and then ourselves. And we aren’t as awesome at handling it all as we thought we’d be or as we’d like to be.

We might need to give up on trying to be awesome, but we shouldn’t give up on trying to be faithful. Simply Convivial Membership is for women who want to grow in faithfulness, diligence, skill, and joy in it all, because all of life gives us opportunities to glorify God by loving others.

Every course, workshop, and troubleshooting session in Simply Convivial Membership helps you learn how to align your attitude with truth, audit your situation with realistic honesty, and iterate for gradual but sure progress. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more and join us for a month’s challenge, a quarter’s project, or an annual commitment to consistent growth. Simply Convivial Membership is all there, ready for you to use on your terms to serve your needs.

* Access any and all courses at any time, in any order. Level up your homemaking and your homeschooling, one baby step at a time.* Find a community of likeminded women, working toward the same goal: learning to love what must be done.* Get support through ongoing conversation, help, and prompts to increase your skill and your motivation as we spur one another on to love and good works.

$12/month – for a limited time

Learn more.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean14:13130170#093: Character builders for mom & kidshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc093/
Mon, 13 May 2019 10:04:53 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=130165https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc093/#respondhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc093/feed/0<p>Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me. If you homeschool, you probably put a lot of time and energy into pulling together your curriculum and resources. So often, though, the best lesson of the day is not the one learned in the lesson plan, but rather the one … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc093/" aria-label="#093: Character builders for mom & kids">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc093/">#093: Character builders for mom & kids</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me.

If you homeschool, you probably put a lot of time and energy into pulling together your curriculum and resources. So often, though, the best lesson of the day is not the one learned in the lesson plan, but rather the one learned in the process of doing the lesson plan. Let me tell you, you don’t need a character curriculum because in reality, every single lesson every single day is a lesson in character – not only for our kids, but even for ourselves.

Let’s dig in.

Original post:

We must know what we are about and we must be able to articulate that to our children. However, the main source of their character training will not come from a lecture or from a coloring page about a virtue; it will come from being made to practice that virtue in the midst of their real life – which includes school lessons.

Turns out that homemaking is a lot of work. It’s way more complicated than we expected when we first got started. More than mundane housework, we come to realize the duty we have as wives and mothers to be the atmosphere of our home. Our attitudes matter more than our housekeeping.

That’s why in Simply Convivial Membership everything – even help with chores – begins with centering and correcting our perspective, our attitudes, and our relationship with the God who gave us the situations we’re in to steward for His glory. What He’s called us to, we can do, and it’s better to not do it alone.

Join Simply Convivial Membership not only for practical guidance in the courses for tackling your attitude and your actions, but grow in consistency in both with the companionship of likeminded women invested in the same approach. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more.

In May and June we’ll be simplifying and streamlining our pantries and menu planning techniques, together, figuring out what works for our unique families and planning and sorting and cooking accordingly. Join for a 3-month quarter at a discount of the monthly rate and tackle this important home management area with hundreds of other women in Simply Convivial Membership.

Access any and all courses at any time, in any order. Level up your homemaking and your homeschooling, one baby step at a time.

Find a community of likeminded women, working toward the same goal: learning to love what must be done.

Get support through ongoing conversation, help, and prompts to increase your skill and your motivation as we spur one another on to love and good works.

]]>Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me. If you homeschool,
Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me.

If you homeschool, you probably put a lot of time and energy into pulling together your curriculum and resources. So often, though, the best lesson of the day is not the one learned in the lesson plan, but rather the one learned in the process of doing the lesson plan. Let me tell you, you don’t need a character curriculum because in reality, every single lesson every single day is a lesson in character – not only for our kids, but even for ourselves.

We must know what we are about and we must be able to articulate that to our children. However, the main source of their character training will not come from a lecture or from a coloring page about a virtue; it will come from being made to practice that virtue in the midst of their real life – which includes school lessons.

Turns out that homemaking is a lot of work. It’s way more complicated than we expected when we first got started. More than mundane housework, we come to realize the duty we have as wives and mothers to be the atmosphere of our home. Our attitudes matter more than our housekeeping.

That’s why in Simply Convivial Membership everything – even help with chores – begins with centering and correcting our perspective, our attitudes, and our relationship with the God who gave us the situations we’re in to steward for His glory. What He’s called us to, we can do, and it’s better to not do it alone.

Join Simply Convivial Membership not only for practical guidance in the courses for tackling your attitude and your actions, but grow in consistency in both with the companionship of likeminded women invested in the same approach. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more.

In May and June we’ll be simplifying and streamlining our pantries and menu planning techniques, together, figuring out what works for our unique families and planning and sorting and cooking accordingly. Join for a 3-month quarter at a discount of the monthly rate and tackle this important home management area with hundreds of other women in Simply Convivial Membership.

* Access any and all courses at any time, in any order. Level up your homemaking and your homeschooling, one baby step at a time.* Find a community of likeminded women, working toward the same goal: learning to love what must be done.* Get support through ongoing conversation, help, and prompts to increase your skill and your motivation as we spur one another on to love and good works.

$12/month – for a limited time

Learn more.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean11:01130165#092: 5 ways to stay sane as a homeschool momhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc092/
Thu, 09 May 2019 21:50:25 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=129892https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc092/#respondhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc092/feed/0<p>Welcome! I am Mystie Winckler, wife, homemaker, reader, writer, and classical homeschooling mother of 5. We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list. Thank you for joining me. Do you ever feel like you’re going to go crazy? Of course you do. We all do. What should we do when we feel that way? Are there … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc092/" aria-label="#092: 5 ways to stay sane as a homeschool mom">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc092/">#092: 5 ways to stay sane as a homeschool mom</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome! I am Mystie Winckler, wife, homemaker, reader, writer, and classical homeschooling mother of 5. We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list. Thank you for joining me.

Do you ever feel like you’re going to go crazy? Of course you do. We all do. What should we do when we feel that way? Are there ways to minimize or prevent the feeling? Here are 5 suggestions I have for battling or circumventing the inevitable onset of crazy-making.

Let’s dig in.

Original Post:

Rather than things to do like “get out by myself” or “carve out reading time” or “get exercise in the fresh air,” all of which are important to, the five things I am sharing today are mindsets, perspectives, ways of thinking that shift the focus off whatever is dragging me down and fix it on something that will lift me back up.

Turns out that homemaking is a lot of work. It’s way more complicated than we expected when we first got started. More than mundane housework, we come to realize the duty we have as wives and mothers to be the atmosphere of our home. Our attitudes matter more than our housekeeping.

That’s why in Simply Convivial Membership everything – even help with chores – begins with centering and correcting our perspective, our attitudes, and our relationship with the God who gave us the situations we’re in to steward for His glory. What He’s called us to, we can do, and it’s better to not do it alone.

Join Simply Convivial Membership not only for practical guidance in the courses for tackling your attitude and your actions, but grow in consistency in both with the companionship of likeminded women invested in the same approach. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more.

In May and June we’ll be simplifying and streamlining our pantries and menu planning techniques, together, figuring out what works for our unique families and planning and sorting and cooking accordingly. Join for a 3-month quarter at a discount of the monthly rate and tackle this important home management area with hundreds of other women in Simply Convivial Membership.

Access any and all courses at any time, in any order. Level up your homemaking and your homeschooling, one baby step at a time.

Find a community of likeminded women, working toward the same goal: learning to love what must be done.

Get support through ongoing conversation, help, and prompts to increase your skill and your motivation as we spur one another on to love and good works.

]]>Welcome! I am Mystie Winckler, wife, homemaker, reader, writer, and classical homeschooling mother of 5. We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God...
Welcome! I am Mystie Winckler, wife, homemaker, reader, writer, and classical homeschooling mother of 5. We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list. Thank you for joining me.

Do you ever feel like you’re going to go crazy? Of course you do. We all do. What should we do when we feel that way? Are there ways to minimize or prevent the feeling? Here are 5 suggestions I have for battling or circumventing the inevitable onset of crazy-making.

Rather than things to do like “get out by myself” or “carve out reading time” or “get exercise in the fresh air,” all of which are important to, the five things I am sharing today are mindsets, perspectives, ways of thinking that shift the focus off whatever is dragging me down and fix it on something that will lift me back up.

Turns out that homemaking is a lot of work. It’s way more complicated than we expected when we first got started. More than mundane housework, we come to realize the duty we have as wives and mothers to be the atmosphere of our home. Our attitudes matter more than our housekeeping.

That’s why in Simply Convivial Membership everything – even help with chores – begins with centering and correcting our perspective, our attitudes, and our relationship with the God who gave us the situations we’re in to steward for His glory. What He’s called us to, we can do, and it’s better to not do it alone.

Join Simply Convivial Membership not only for practical guidance in the courses for tackling your attitude and your actions, but grow in consistency in both with the companionship of likeminded women invested in the same approach. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more.

In May and June we’ll be simplifying and streamlining our pantries and menu planning techniques, together, figuring out what works for our unique families and planning and sorting and cooking accordingly. Join for a 3-month quarter at a discount of the monthly rate and tackle this important home management area with hundreds of other women in Simply Convivial Membership.

* Access any and all courses at any time, in any order. Level up your homemaking and your homeschooling, one baby step at a time.* Find a community of likeminded women, working toward the same goal: learning to love what must be done.* Get support through ongoing conversation, help, and prompts to increase your skill and your motivation as we spur one another on to love and good works.

$12/month – for a limited time

Learn more.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:37129892#091: 6 steps to reclaim home organizationhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc091/
Mon, 29 Apr 2019 10:17:26 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=129753https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc091/#respondhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc091/feed/0<p>Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me. Today’s episode is a fun one. Who doesn’t love a step-by-step program, right? The reality is that our organizational efforts will fall apart and suffer from entropy. That just means a time will come to jump in, pick up the pieces, … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc091/" aria-label="#091: 6 steps to reclaim home organization">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc091/">#091: 6 steps to reclaim home organization</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me.

Today’s episode is a fun one. Who doesn’t love a step-by-step program, right? The reality is that our organizational efforts will fall apart and suffer from entropy. That just means a time will come to jump in, pick up the pieces, and start over again. Here’s how to do just that.

Let’s dig in.

Original post:

We can recover from topsy-turvy times. It might take one or two intensive days or a week or two gradually added to. When you know it’s time to get your home back in hand, these are the steps to get there. No more floundering, not knowing where to start, feeling like it must all be done now.

Turns out that homemaking is a lot of work. It’s way more complicated than we expected when we first got started. More than mundane housework, we come to realize the duty we have as wives and mothers to be the atmosphere of our home. Our attitudes matter more than our housekeeping.

That’s why in Simply Convivial Membership everything – even help with chores – begins with centering and correcting our perspective, our attitudes, and our relationship with the God who gave us the situations we’re in to steward for His glory. What He’s called us to, we can do, and it’s better to not do it alone.

Join Simply Convivial Membership not only for practical guidance in the courses for tackling your attitude and your actions, but grow in consistency in both with the companionship of likeminded women invested in the same approach. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more.

In May and June we’ll be simplifying and streamlining our pantries and menu planning techniques, together, figuring out what works for our unique families and planning and sorting and cooking accordingly. Join for a 3-month quarter at a discount of the monthly rate and tackle this important home management area with hundreds of other women in Simply Convivial Membership.

Access any and all courses at any time, in any order. Level up your homemaking and your homeschooling, one baby step at a time.

Find a community of likeminded women, working toward the same goal: learning to love what must be done.

Get support through ongoing conversation, help, and prompts to increase your skill and your motivation as we spur one another on to love and good works.

]]>Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me. Today’s episode is a fun one.
Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me.

Today’s episode is a fun one. Who doesn’t love a step-by-step program, right? The reality is that our organizational efforts will fall apart and suffer from entropy. That just means a time will come to jump in, pick up the pieces, and start over again. Here’s how to do just that.

We can recover from topsy-turvy times. It might take one or two intensive days or a week or two gradually added to. When you know it’s time to get your home back in hand, these are the steps to get there. No more floundering, not knowing where to start, feeling like it must all be done now.

Turns out that homemaking is a lot of work. It’s way more complicated than we expected when we first got started. More than mundane housework, we come to realize the duty we have as wives and mothers to be the atmosphere of our home. Our attitudes matter more than our housekeeping.

That’s why in Simply Convivial Membership everything – even help with chores – begins with centering and correcting our perspective, our attitudes, and our relationship with the God who gave us the situations we’re in to steward for His glory. What He’s called us to, we can do, and it’s better to not do it alone.

Join Simply Convivial Membership not only for practical guidance in the courses for tackling your attitude and your actions, but grow in consistency in both with the companionship of likeminded women invested in the same approach. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more.

In May and June we’ll be simplifying and streamlining our pantries and menu planning techniques, together, figuring out what works for our unique families and planning and sorting and cooking accordingly. Join for a 3-month quarter at a discount of the monthly rate and tackle this important home management area with hundreds of other women in Simply Convivial Membership.

* Access any and all courses at any time, in any order. Level up your homemaking and your homeschooling, one baby step at a time.* Find a community of likeminded women, working toward the same goal: learning to love what must be done.* Get support through ongoing conversation, help, and prompts to increase your skill and your motivation as we spur one another on to love and good works.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:11129753#090: Moms must muddle on.https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc090/
Mon, 22 Apr 2019 15:56:06 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=129640https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc090/#respondhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc090/feed/0<p>Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me. Today’s episode is one to let you know you are not alone and pass on a bit of wisdom I knew from my own mom and also heard from Cindy Rollins: Life with toddlers just is a muddle. Roll with it; … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc090/" aria-label="#090: Moms must muddle on.">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc090/">#090: Moms must muddle on.</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me.

Today’s episode is one to let you know you are not alone and pass on a bit of wisdom I knew from my own mom and also heard from Cindy Rollins: Life with toddlers just is a muddle. Roll with it; don’t fight it. In fact, as the oldest of 7 and mother of 5, I’ve lived with toddlers for over 30 years. The muddle is reality, and that’s ok.

Let’s dig in.

Original post:

I needed an attitude change for progress to happen, but I also needed straight, raw practice. You can’t go from zero to sixty overnight in housekeeping skills. And every pregnancy and newborn seemed to roll me back down the hill I’d been trudging up.

Turns out that homemaking is a lot of work. It’s way more complicated than we expected when we first got started. More than mundane housework, we come to realize the duty we have as wives and mothers to be the atmosphere of our home. Our attitudes matter more than our housekeeping.

That’s why in Simply Convivial Membership everything – even help with chores – begins with centering and correcting our perspective, our attitudes, and our relationship with the God who gave us the situations we’re in to steward for His glory. What He’s called us to, we can do, and it’s better to not do it alone.

Join Simply Convivial Membership not only for practical guidance in the courses for tackling your attitude and your actions, but grow in consistency in both with the companionship of likeminded women invested in the same approach. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more.

In May and June we’ll be simplifying and streamlining our pantries and menu planning techniques, together, figuring out what works for our unique families and planning and sorting and cooking accordingly. Join for a 3-month quarter at a discount of the monthly rate and tackle this important home management area with hundreds of other women in Simply Convivial Membership.

]]>Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me.
Welcome! We are Simply Convivial because we keep first things first and know that our attitudes, our hearts, set the tone in our homes and matter before God more than our to-do list does. Thank you for joining me.

Today’s episode is one to let you know you are not alone and pass on a bit of wisdom I knew from my own mom and also heard from Cindy Rollins: Life with toddlers just is a muddle. Roll with it; don’t fight it. In fact, as the oldest of 7 and mother of 5, I’ve lived with toddlers for over 30 years. The muddle is reality, and that’s ok.

I needed an attitude change for progress to happen, but I also needed straight, raw practice. You can’t go from zero to sixty overnight in housekeeping skills. And every pregnancy and newborn seemed to roll me back down the hill I’d been trudging up.

Turns out that homemaking is a lot of work. It’s way more complicated than we expected when we first got started. More than mundane housework, we come to realize the duty we have as wives and mothers to be the atmosphere of our home. Our attitudes matter more than our housekeeping.

That’s why in Simply Convivial Membership everything – even help with chores – begins with centering and correcting our perspective, our attitudes, and our relationship with the God who gave us the situations we’re in to steward for His glory. What He’s called us to, we can do, and it’s better to not do it alone.

Join Simply Convivial Membership not only for practical guidance in the courses for tackling your attitude and your actions, but grow in consistency in both with the companionship of likeminded women invested in the same approach. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more.

In May and June we’ll be simplifying and streamlining our pantries and menu planning techniques, together, figuring out what works for our unique families and planning and sorting and cooking accordingly. Join for a 3-month quarter at a discount of the monthly rate and tackle this important home management area with hundreds of other women in Simply Convivial Membership.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:13129640#089: Why we need friendshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc089/
Mon, 15 Apr 2019 10:56:48 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=129131https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc089/#respondhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc089/feed/0<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog. I’m Mystie Winckler, a homeschool graduate myself now homeschooling my 5 kids who span first grade to tenth grade. Homemaking and homeschooling was harder than I thought it’d be, so I write and speak to keep my own head in the game and I hope it helps you do the same, too. Today’s episode is a reminder that we are not alone, we are not each our own islands and we shouldn’t pretend … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc089/" aria-label="#089: Why we need friends">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc089/">#089: Why we need friends</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog. I’m Mystie Winckler, a homeschool graduate myself now homeschooling my 5 kids who span first grade to tenth grade. Homemaking and homeschooling was harder than I thought it’d be, so I write and speak to keep my own head in the game and I hope it helps you do the same, too.

Today’s episode is a reminder that we are not alone, we are not each our own islands and we shouldn’t pretend to be or try to be. Friends aren’t a fun accessory; friends are necessary for perspective and encouragement. Sometimes isolation seems like a good idea, but it isn’t.

Let’s dig in.

Original post:

If you’re trapped in a burnt out mode, unable to keep up and incapable of putting a smile on it, one way out is to let go of situation-control and share the load.

There’s a reason Scripture tells us to not grow weary in doing good – that’s really a thing. We feel weary, but we’re called not only to persevere but to be zealous for good works. That takes planning, intention, and joy. It won’t happen on accident. We get weary because it turns out that doing what we ought, even just at home, is harder than we expected.

It’s our expectations and our attitudes that are out of whack more than our stuff. Simply Convivial Membership provides you with the support and perspective that you need to dig in and practice not only diligence, but diligence with joy. Courses, texts, community, discussion, workshops, and more, are there when you need it – for as much or as little as you can handle at the time. Need to target a specific area? There’s a lesson for that and a place to talk it through with others.

Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more. April’s theme is laundry, and all members have the option of participating in Sweep & Smile live – a 6 week course on tackling habit housekeeping routines. It’s practical, specific, and challenging. Join membership to access Sweep & Smile and so much more!

Inside Membership you’ll be able to

Access any and all courses at any time, in any order. Level up your homemaking and your homeschooling, one baby step at a time.

Find a community of likeminded women, working toward the same goal: learning to love what must be done.

Get support through ongoing conversation, help, and prompts to increase your skill and your motivation as we spur one another on to love and good works.

]]>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog. I’m Mystie Winckler, a homeschool graduate myself now homeschooling my 5 kids who span first grade to tenth grade. Homemaking and homeschooling was harder than I thought it’d be,
Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog. I’m Mystie Winckler, a homeschool graduate myself now homeschooling my 5 kids who span first grade to tenth grade. Homemaking and homeschooling was harder than I thought it’d be, so I write and speak to keep my own head in the game and I hope it helps you do the same, too.

Today’s episode is a reminder that we are not alone, we are not each our own islands and we shouldn’t pretend to be or try to be. Friends aren’t a fun accessory; friends are necessary for perspective and encouragement. Sometimes isolation seems like a good idea, but it isn’t.

If you’re trapped in a burnt out mode, unable to keep up and incapable of putting a smile on it, one way out is to let go of situation-control and share the load.

There’s a reason Scripture tells us to not grow weary in doing good – that’s really a thing. We feel weary, but we’re called not only to persevere but to be zealous for good works. That takes planning, intention, and joy. It won’t happen on accident. We get weary because it turns out that doing what we ought, even just at home, is harder than we expected.

It’s our expectations and our attitudes that are out of whack more than our stuff. Simply Convivial Membership provides you with the support and perspective that you need to dig in and practice not only diligence, but diligence with joy. Courses, texts, community, discussion, workshops, and more, are there when you need it – for as much or as little as you can handle at the time. Need to target a specific area? There’s a lesson for that and a place to talk it through with others.

Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more. April’s theme is laundry, and all members have the option of participating in Sweep & Smile live – a 6 week course on tackling habit housekeeping routines. It’s practical, specific, and challenging. Join membership to access Sweep & Smile and so much more!

Inside Membership you’ll be able to

* Access any and all courses at any time, in any order. Level up your homemaking and your homeschooling, one baby step at a time.* Find a community of likeminded women, working toward the same goal: learning to love what must be done.* Get support through ongoing conversation, help, and prompts to increase your skill and your motivation as we spur one another on to love and good works.

$12/month – for a limited time

Learn more.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:16129131#088: 5 Ways to Love Our Kidshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc088/
Mon, 08 Apr 2019 21:17:25 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=128667https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc088/#commentshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc088/feed/1<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we learn to walk more and more in fruitfulness and faithfulness in the midst of the mundane. I’m Mystie Winckler, homeschooling mother of 5 kids who are currently 15 to 6, and I write and speak so that I stay thoughtfully engaged in my family duties, learn to love what must be done, and organize my attitude – and I’m glad you’re joining me. My personality type – INTJ – is sometimes … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc088/" aria-label="#088: 5 Ways to Love Our Kids">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc088/">#088: 5 Ways to Love Our Kids</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we learn to walk more and more in fruitfulness and faithfulness in the midst of the mundane. I’m Mystie Winckler, homeschooling mother of 5 kids who are currently 15 to 6, and I write and speak so that I stay thoughtfully engaged in my family duties, learn to love what must be done, and organize my attitude – and I’m glad you’re joining me.

My personality type – INTJ – is sometimes called the “least nurturing” of the types. That means that sometimes a list, a logical reason and strategic plan is actually the best and most effective way for me to do something as simple and supposedly natural as loving my children well. Of course I do have such a list. Bear with me as I share it. Maybe you’ll get some ideas that you will be able to incorporate naturally.

Let’s dig in.

Original post:

So, as someone who is a compulsive list-maker and systematizer, but not a naturally affectionate type, I have a list to fall back on when I sense that I’m dropping the ball on communicating to my children that I love them and am so thankful to be with them day in and day out, even though it often feels like a madhouse.

Are you fighting everyday to resist your inner two-year-old and learn to love what must be done? Me, too, and we are not the only ones. It’s a constant battle, but it’s one that causes us to learn and grow. It’s worth the struggle. Join Simply Convivial Membership and find community and camaraderie with likeminded women who can cheer you and spur you on in the daily work of diligence. With the anytime course material there to help you dig deeper and problem solve, the private chat community there to talk it over and troubleshoot, the weekly video session to get a mini pep talk and relevant Q&A, plus timely live course accountability & monthly topic themes.

Whether you join for a month or two to complete a specific challenge or attend a live workshop series or commit to persistent baby steps to lasting change with a greatly discounted annual plan, Simply Convivial Membership is always open and ready for you when you need it.

Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more. April’s theme is laundry, and all members have the option of participating in Sweep & Smile live – a 6 week course on tackling habit housekeeping routines. It’s practical, specific, and challenging. Join membership to access Sweep & Smile and so much more!

Start your brain dump now with my free guide with prompts and instructions
to get you decluttering your mind today!

]]>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we learn to walk more and more in fruitfulness and faithfulness in the midst of the mundane. I’m Mystie Winckler, homeschooling mother of 5 kids who are currently 15 to 6,
My personality type – INTJ – is sometimes called the “least nurturing” of the types. That means that sometimes a list, a logical reason and strategic plan is actually the best and most effective way for me to do something as simple and supposedly natural as loving my children well. Of course I do have such a list. Bear with me as I share it. Maybe you’ll get some ideas that you will be able to incorporate naturally.
Let’s dig in.

So, as someone who is a compulsive list-maker and systematizer, but not a naturally affectionate type, I have a list to fall back on when I sense that I’m dropping the ball on communicating to my children that I love them and am so thankful to be with them day in and day out, even though it often feels like a madhouse.

Are you fighting everyday to resist your inner two-year-old and learn to love what must be done? Me, too, and we are not the only ones. It’s a constant battle, but it’s one that causes us to learn and grow. It’s worth the struggle. Join Simply Convivial Membership and find community and camaraderie with likeminded women who can cheer you and spur you on in the daily work of diligence. With the anytime course material there to help you dig deeper and problem solve, the private chat community there to talk it over and troubleshoot, the weekly video session to get a mini pep talk and relevant Q&A, plus timely live course accountability & monthly topic themes.
Whether you join for a month or two to complete a specific challenge or attend a live workshop series or commit to persistent baby steps to lasting change with a greatly discounted annual plan, Simply Convivial Membership is always open and ready for you when you need it.
Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more. April’s theme is laundry, and all members have the option of participating in Sweep & Smile live – a 6 week course on tackling habit housekeeping routines. It’s practical, specific, and challenging. Join membership to access Sweep & Smile and so much more!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:15128667#087: Novels are not a waste of time.https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc087/
Mon, 01 Apr 2019 10:58:00 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=128664https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc087/#respondhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc087/feed/0<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog! This is the place where we give ourselves a quick pep talk, preferably while doing a quick chore or two. After all, we want to stay engaged and alert, learning and growing, in our roles at home and in the world. While working to increase our engagement & attention, we might be tempted to squeeze every last bit of productivity out of our day, to the detriment of our attitudes, our minds, and … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc087/" aria-label="#087: Novels are not a waste of time.">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc087/">#087: Novels are not a waste of time.</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog! This is the place where we give ourselves a quick pep talk, preferably while doing a quick chore or two. After all, we want to stay engaged and alert, learning and growing, in our roles at home and in the world.

While working to increase our engagement & attention, we might be tempted to squeeze every last bit of productivity out of our day, to the detriment of our attitudes, our minds, and our souls. Today’s post is about how a novel was instrumental in my own development and awareness as a homemaker.

Let’s dig in.

Original post:

When we read novels, we are able to see the world from another point of view, experience different settings and lifestyles and circumstances, and are better able to see how small circumstances build into a big picture – into a story.

There’s a reason Scripture tells us to not grow weary in doing good – that’s really a thing. We feel weary, but we’re called not only to persevere but to be zealous for good works. That takes planning, intention, and joy. It won’t happen on accident. We get weary because it turns out that doing what we ought, even just at home, is harder than we expected.

It’s our expectations and our attitudes that are out of whack more than our stuff. Simply Convivial Membership provides you with the support and perspective that you need to dig in and practice not only diligence, but diligence with joy. Courses, texts, community, discussion, workshops, and more, are there when you need it – for as much or as little as you can handle at the time. Need to target a specific area? There’s a lesson for that and a place to talk it through with others.

Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more. April’s theme is laundry, and all members have the option of participating in Sweep & Smile live – a 6 week course on tackling habit housekeeping routines. It’s practical, specific, and challenging. Join membership to access Sweep & Smile and so much more!

Free Guide: Create a Personalized Housekeeping Routine

]]>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog! This is the place where we give ourselves a quick pep talk, preferably while doing a quick chore or two. After all, we want to stay engaged and alert, learning and growing,
While working to increase our engagement & attention, we might be tempted to squeeze every last bit of productivity out of our day, to the detriment of our attitudes, our minds, and our souls. Today’s post is about how a novel was instrumental in my own development and awareness as a homemaker.
Let’s dig in.

When we read novels, we are able to see the world from another point of view, experience different settings and lifestyles and circumstances, and are better able to see how small circumstances build into a big picture – into a story.

There’s a reason Scripture tells us to not grow weary in doing good – that’s really a thing. We feel weary, but we’re called not only to persevere but to be zealous for good works. That takes planning, intention, and joy. It won’t happen on accident. We get weary because it turns out that doing what we ought, even just at home, is harder than we expected.
It’s our expectations and our attitudes that are out of whack more than our stuff. Simply Convivial Membership provides you with the support and perspective that you need to dig in and practice not only diligence, but diligence with joy. Courses, texts, community, discussion, workshops, and more, are there when you need it – for as much or as little as you can handle at the time. Need to target a specific area? There’s a lesson for that and a place to talk it through with others.
Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more. April’s theme is laundry, and all members have the option of participating in Sweep & Smile live – a 6 week course on tackling habit housekeeping routines. It’s practical, specific, and challenging. Join membership to access Sweep & Smile and so much more!

Free Guide: Create a Personalized Housekeeping Routine

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:48128664#086: How to have a growth mindsethttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc086/
Mon, 25 Mar 2019 17:59:57 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=128464https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc086/#respondhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc086/feed/0<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where I share short, motivational pep talks I need to hear myself. Turns out homemaking, parenting, homeschooling is a harder gig than we anticipated, but here we are, determined to not grow weary in doing good but rather relying on the strength and grace of God to do our duty and even to stay cheerful. Thanks for joining me for this episode, where we will talk about a core concept and even a … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc086/" aria-label="#086: How to have a growth mindset">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc086/">#086: How to have a growth mindset</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where I share short, motivational pep talks I need to hear myself. Turns out homemaking, parenting, homeschooling is a harder gig than we anticipated, but here we are, determined to not grow weary in doing good but rather relying on the strength and grace of God to do our duty and even to stay cheerful.

Thanks for joining me for this episode, where we will talk about a core concept and even a hot-button topic these days: keeping a growth mindset.

A growth mindset is exactly what we need as we seek to improve not only our attitudes but also our skill in our work at home.

Let’s dig in.

Original post:

Our capacities are able to grow, but you must know and act upon that knowledge for growth to happen. It won’t happen automatically. Growth takes deliberate effort.

Are you fighting everyday to resist your inner two-year-old and learn to love what must be done? Me, too, and we are not the only ones. It’s a constant battle, but it’s one that causes us to learn and grow. It’s worth the struggle. Join Simply Convivial Membership and find community and camaraderie with likeminded women who can cheer you and spur you on in the daily work of diligence. With the anytime course material there to help you dig deeper and problem solve, the private chat community there to talk it over and troubleshoot, the weekly video session to get a mini pep talk and relevant Q&A, plus timely live course accountability & monthly topic themes.

Whether you join for a month or two to complete a specific challenge or attend a live workshop series or commit to persistent baby steps to lasting change with a greatly discounted annual plan, Simply Convivial Membership is always open and ready for you when you need it.

Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more. April’s theme is laundry, and all members have the option of participating in Sweep & Smile live – a 6 week course on tackling habit housekeeping routines. It’s practical, specific, and challenging. Join membership to access Sweep & Smile and so much more!

]]>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where I share short, motivational pep talks I need to hear myself. Turns out homemaking, parenting, homeschooling is a harder gig than we anticipated, but here we are,
Thanks for joining me for this episode, where we will talk about a core concept and even a hot-button topic these days: keeping a growth mindset.
A growth mindset is exactly what we need as we seek to improve not only our attitudes but also our skill in our work at home.
Let’s dig in.

Our capacities are able to grow, but you must know and act upon that knowledge for growth to happen. It won’t happen automatically. Growth takes deliberate effort.

Are you fighting everyday to resist your inner two-year-old and learn to love what must be done? Me, too, and we are not the only ones. It’s a constant battle, but it’s one that causes us to learn and grow. It’s worth the struggle. Join Simply Convivial Membership and find community and camaraderie with likeminded women who can cheer you and spur you on in the daily work of diligence. With the anytime course material there to help you dig deeper and problem solve, the private chat community there to talk it over and troubleshoot, the weekly video session to get a mini pep talk and relevant Q&A, plus timely live course accountability & monthly topic themes.
Whether you join for a month or two to complete a specific challenge or attend a live workshop series or commit to persistent baby steps to lasting change with a greatly discounted annual plan, Simply Convivial Membership is always open and ready for you when you need it.
Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more. April’s theme is laundry, and all members have the option of participating in Sweep & Smile live – a 6 week course on tackling habit housekeeping routines. It’s practical, specific, and challenging. Join membership to access Sweep & Smile and so much more!]]>Mystie Wincklerclean9:07128464#085: All God’s childrenhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc085/
Mon, 18 Mar 2019 09:32:05 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=128358https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc085/#respondhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc085/feed/0<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog, where we practice managing our lives with fruitful, faithful resilience, overcoming distraction and discouragement, so we can glorify God in our work and our attitudes. Motherhood shifts our perspective on life. Today’s episode is a baby shower devotional I gave at my sister-in-law’s baby shower three years ago. In it I share good news, bad news, and good news about how we change when we become mothers. Let’s dig in. Original post: Mothers … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc085/" aria-label="#085: All God’s children">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc085/">#085: All God’s children</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog, where we practice managing our lives with fruitful, faithful resilience, overcoming distraction and discouragement, so we can glorify God in our work and our attitudes.

Motherhood shifts our perspective on life. Today’s episode is a baby shower devotional I gave at my sister-in-law’s baby shower three years ago. In it I share good news, bad news, and good news about how we change when we become mothers.

Let’s dig in.

Original post:

Motherhood is one avenue for sanctification – one of many, but a very effective and intensive one. All the phases that will come and go are double-edged means. They are calls on you to serve God by loving and discipling your children through them and they will be tools God uses to love and disciple you.

I’d love to have you join in the mission of Simply Convivial: to organize our attitudes and do the right next thing to glorify God and enjoy Him forever – starting now. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more about how to do that.

In January I collected some tips about brain dumps from members. Here are a few of them:

Sue said:

My thoughts tend to get jammed on the way out because there are to many that want to make their way out at once. Following the brain dump prompts has help me to put my thoughts in line knowing that each one will have its own time.

Danielle gave this tip:

I review my brain dump from the last week or so when i’m sitting in carpool lane or at kids gymnastic lessons.

Simply Convivial Membership includes not only my homemaking and homeschooling courses, all in one place, it is also a community of likeminded women, committed to growth and faithfulness amidst their full lives.

We’d love to have you join us. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more. And of course you can find that free brain dump guide by clicking below.

Start your brain dump now with my free guide with prompts and instructions
to get you decluttering your mind today!

]]>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog, where we practice managing our lives with fruitful, faithful resilience, overcoming distraction and discouragement, so we can glorify God in our work and our attitudes.
Motherhood shifts our perspective on life. Today’s episode is a baby shower devotional I gave at my sister-in-law’s baby shower three years ago. In it I share good news, bad news, and good news about how we change when we become mothers.
Let’s dig in.

Motherhood is one avenue for sanctification – one of many, but a very effective and intensive one. All the phases that will come and go are double-edged means. They are calls on you to serve God by loving and discipling your children through them and they will be tools God uses to love and disciple you.

I’d love to have you join in the mission of Simply Convivial: to organize our attitudes and do the right next thing to glorify God and enjoy Him forever – starting now. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more about how to do that.
In January I collected some tips about brain dumps from members. Here are a few of them:
Sue said:

My thoughts tend to get jammed on the way out because there are to many that want to make their way out at once. Following the brain dump prompts has help me to put my thoughts in line knowing that each one will have its own time.

Danielle gave this tip:

I review my brain dump from the last week or so when i’m sitting in carpool lane or at kids gymnastic lessons.

Simply Convivial Membership includes not only my homemaking and homeschooling courses, all in one place, it is also a community of likeminded women, committed to growth and faithfulness amidst their full lives.
We’d love to have you join us. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more. And of course you can find that free brain dump guide by clicking below.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:53128358#084: When noise rubs nerves rawhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc084/
Mon, 11 Mar 2019 11:34:44 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=127817<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog, where we practice managing our lives with fruitful, faithful resilience, overcoming distraction and discouragement, so we can glorify God in our work and our attitudes. Sometimes the days are long and loud and trying, particularly when everyone is small and needy. Today’s post is one a wrote a number of years ago when no one was double-digits yet. It’s an intense time, and yet it’s also a fleeting time, it turns out. Still, … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc084/" aria-label="#084: When noise rubs nerves raw">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc084/">#084: When noise rubs nerves raw</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog, where we practice managing our lives with fruitful, faithful resilience, overcoming distraction and discouragement, so we can glorify God in our work and our attitudes.
Sometimes the days are long and loud and trying, particularly when everyone is small and needy. Today’s post is one a wrote a number of years ago when no one was double-digits yet. It’s an intense time, and yet it’s also a fleeting time, it turns out. Still, we need strategies for surviving the moment.
Let’s dig in.

The point is not try harder. No matter how the movie scene went, inspiring words rarely actually lift us up out of raw nerves.

Certainly, though, we must make sure we are looking at the right thing. Telling ourselves the right story.

I’d love to have you join in the mission of Simply Convivial: to organize our attitudes and do the right next thing to glorify God and enjoy Him forever – starting now. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more about how to do that.
All February in Convivial Circle we’ve been talking all things weekly review and I have these member tips to share with you:
Janet: “When there isn’t time for a “proper” weekly review I just answer one main question, “Am I ready for next week?” And if there’s a time I can answer “What can I do to make the next 2-3 weeks easier?””
Stefani shared: “Don’t worry about the time it takes to do the Weekly Review. These are decisions you are going to have to make anyway, so you may as well make them in a good mindset rather than by the seat of your pants later!”
Kathleen also said: “My best tip for the weekly review is to keep the tasks truly limited for the next week instead of piling on, which I am so tempted to do. Piling on prevents me from saying, “Enough,” to the work and moving on to relax and recreate to a healthy degree. Love your limits. They bring freedom!”
Katrina gave this advice: “Don’t give up. Just keep moving forward. Trying and failing is actually not failing. It’s learning what does and doesn’t work. Just take the next step.”
Simply Convivial Membership includes not only my homemaking and homeschooling courses, all in one place, it is also a community of likeminded women, committed to growth and faithfulness amidst their full lives.
We’d love to have you join us. Visit Simply Convivial Membership to learn more.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:50127817#083: Homemaking requires hospitality.https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc083/
Mon, 04 Mar 2019 14:12:10 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=127480<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog, where we practice managing our lives with fruitful, faithful resilience, overcoming distraction and discouragement, so we can glorify God in our work and our attitudes. The word hospitality, as it comes to us in English through Old French and Latin *hospes*, means being a host – a loaded concept in ancient times. Hosts have certain duties, and in learning about hospitality we learn about what we ought to do and be as homemakers. … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc083/" aria-label="#083: Homemaking requires hospitality.">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc083/">#083: Homemaking requires hospitality.</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog, where we practice managing our lives with fruitful, faithful resilience, overcoming distraction and discouragement, so we can glorify God in our work and our attitudes. The word hospitality,
The word hospitality, as it comes to us in English through Old French and Latin *hospes*, means being a host – a loaded concept in ancient times. Hosts have certain duties, and in learning about hospitality we learn about what we ought to do and be as homemakers. For to extend hospitality, there must first be a home. For there to be welcome into a family, there must first be a welcomed and welcoming family.
Let’s dig in.

Manners are love in trifles, love in the small things. What small ways can we make our love seen and felt throughout mundane days? Hospitality gives us clues.

And that concludes this episode of the Simply Convivial Audio Blog. To follow up, I highly recommend sitting down with pen and paper and brain dumping what homemaking and hospitality might look like in your situation. A brain dump is a sanity-saving and clarity-giving practice. You can learn more about it by downloading the free guide below.
Start your brain dump now with my free guide with prompts and instructions to get you decluttering your mind today!

And, in it all, remember that God’s will in our life is our sanctification. So, let’s Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean8:16127480#082: Children are persons needing educationhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc082/
Mon, 25 Feb 2019 16:49:05 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=126119<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we grow in faithfulness, cheerfulness, and resilience, staying engaged in our life at home because it’s where God has placed us to serve. I’m Mystie Winckler, a second-generation homeschooler now classically home educating my brood of 5, ages 15 to 6. We’re continuing to explore foundational educational philosophy with this episode, because what we believe about humans and about education matters tremendously to our work as mothers, especially if we homeschool. In … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc082/" aria-label="#082: Children are persons needing education">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc082/">#082: Children are persons needing education</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we grow in faithfulness, cheerfulness, and resilience, staying engaged in our life at home because it’s where God has placed us to serve. I’m Mystie Winckler,
We’re continuing to explore foundational educational philosophy with this episode, because what we believe about humans and about education matters tremendously to our work as mothers, especially if we homeschool.
In this post I draw some more connections between classical educational philosophy and the work of Charlotte Mason. But it’s more than theory, it’s also imminently practical.

Our goal is not outward conformity, but a growth of the affections toward what is good and true and beautiful so that those strong fleshly appetites have less and less appeal and strength. And all children need that, regardless of their outward appearances, regardless of their temperaments or personalities.

And that’s it for this episode of the Simply Convivial Audio Blog. If you need a handy cheat sheet with pithy and memorable quotes to help you keep your head in the game as a homeschooling mom, then you need an Alignment Sheet. Click the link below to download a free one-page quick reference of a handful of helpful quotes on this education project we’ve undertaken.

Get started with a free attitude alignment cheat sheet that will help keep you focused on what matters:

Then remember. Life is for God’s glory, not our own. So. Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean12:47126119#081: Children are born personshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc081/
Mon, 18 Feb 2019 17:10:29 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=125485<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we grow in faithfulness, cheerfulness, and resilience, staying engaged in our life at home because it’s where God has placed us to serve. I’m Mystie Winckler, a second-generation homeschooler now classically home educating my brood of 5, ages 15 to 6. Today’s episode is a bite-sized piece of educational philosophy for you from Charlotte Mason on the nature of children. They are persons. As James KA Smith says, “Every pedagogy assumes … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc081/" aria-label="#081: Children are born persons">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc081/">#081: Children are born persons</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we grow in faithfulness, cheerfulness, and resilience, staying engaged in our life at home because it’s where God has placed us to serve. I’m Mystie Winckler,
Today’s episode is a bite-sized piece of educational philosophy for you from Charlotte Mason on the nature of children. They are persons. As James KA Smith says, “Every pedagogy assumes an anthropology.” Or, in other words, every method of teaching is based on our idea about what a human being is and should be.

Children are born as image-bearers of God, yet also subject to sin. They are not blank slates. They are not malleable, shapeless lumps of clay. They are not mere animals. They are not angels. They are people, persons, individuals, from the beginning. They are made in the divine image and are not made to be simply fodder for the economy.

And that’s it for this episode of the Simply Convivial Audio Blog. If you need a handy cheat sheet with pithy and memorable quotes to help you keep your head in the game as a homeschooling mom, then you need an Alignment Sheet.

Get started with a free attitude alignment cheat sheet that will help keep you focused on what matters:

Life is for God’s glory, not our own.

So. Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:51125485#080: Be an impervious mother.https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc080/
Mon, 11 Feb 2019 15:46:25 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=124940<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we grow in faithfulness, cheerfulness, and resilience, staying engaged in our life at home because it’s where God has placed us to serve. I’m Mystie Winckler, a second-generation homeschooler now classically home educating my brood of 5, ages 15 to 6. I learned to apply the word impervious to being a mother from my long-time mentor, Cindy Rollins. As a mother of 8 boys – and 1 girl – Cindy gave practical, … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc080/" aria-label="#080: Be an impervious mother.">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc080/">#080: Be an impervious mother.</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we grow in faithfulness, cheerfulness, and resilience, staying engaged in our life at home because it’s where God has placed us to serve. I’m Mystie Winckler,
I learned to apply the word impervious to being a mother from my long-time mentor, Cindy Rollins. As a mother of 8 boys – and 1 girl – Cindy gave practical, applicable advice. Don’t argue with them, she said; be impervious.
Let’s dig in and figure out what that means.

To be impervious is not to be stoic. Rather, it is how we become the thermostat rather than the thermometer, how we set the tone for ourselves and for our interactions.

And that’s it for this episode of the Simply Convivial Audio Blog. If you need a handy cheat sheet with pithy and memorable quotes to help you keep your head in the game as a homeschooling mom, then you need an Alignment Sheet. Click the button below to download a free one-page quick reference of a handful of helpful quotes on this education project we’ve undertaken.

Then remember. Life is for God’s glory, not our own. So. Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:52124940#079: Charlotte Mason is classicalhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc079/
Mon, 04 Feb 2019 19:29:05 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=123235<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we grow in faithfulness, cheerfulness, and resilience, staying engaged in our life at home because it’s where God has placed us to serve. I’m Mystie Winckler, a second-generation homeschooler now classically home educating my brood of 5, ages 15 to 6. Today’s episode is a bite-sized piece of educational philosophy for you on classical and Charlotte Mason methods and why I think they’re grounded on the same philosophical truths, compatible sources of … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc079/" aria-label="#079: Charlotte Mason is classical">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc079/">#079: Charlotte Mason is classical</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we grow in faithfulness, cheerfulness, and resilience, staying engaged in our life at home because it’s where God has placed us to serve. I’m Mystie Winckler,
Today’s episode is a bite-sized piece of educational philosophy for you on classical and Charlotte Mason methods and why I think they’re grounded on the same philosophical truths, compatible sources of motivation, insight, and practice.
Let’s dig in.
Original post:Miss Charlotte Mason, classical educator

Classical education is an education oriented toward the higher ideals that modern materialists don’t even believe exist, the primary ideal being truth. And Truth became a person. And Truth is evident in all His Creation. An education that aims at ignoring truth and focuses instead on shortcutting to results and outcomes will not get either, as should be manifest by now.

And that’s it for this episode of the Simply Convivial Audio Blog. If you need a handy cheat sheet with pithy and memorable quotes to help you keep your head in the game as a homeschooling mom, then you need an Alignment Sheet. Click the link below to download a free one-page quick reference of a handful of helpful quotes on this education project we’ve undertaken.
Then remember. Life is for God’s glory, not our own. So. Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean8:14123235#078: Life is full of entropyhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc078/
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 15:56:29 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=122237<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we learn to walk more and more in fruitfulness and faithfulness in the midst of the mundane. I’m Mystie Winckler, homeschooling mother of 5, and I write and speak so that I stay thoughtfully engaged in my family duties, learn to love what must be done, and organize my attitude – and I’m glad you’re joining me. Today’s episode is number 15 in a series called 52 Ways to Organize Your Attitude. … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc078/" aria-label="#078: Life is full of entropy">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc078/">#078: Life is full of entropy</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we learn to walk more and more in fruitfulness and faithfulness in the midst of the mundane. I’m Mystie Winckler, homeschooling mother of 5, and I write and speak so that I stay thoughtfully engaged in ...
Today’s episode is number 15 in a series called 52 Ways to Organize Your Attitude. It’s all about entropy, which turns out to be a nerdy science topic super-applicable to homemakers and mothers. Too often we try for plans, systems, or cleaning that stays static and complete – that’s frustrating because it’s not the way the world works.
Let’s dig in.
Original post:Accept entropy as a part of life.
Everything – everything – tends toward disorder if left untouched and unmanaged. If we accept that and build in times for maintenance and upkeep of our homes, our systems, and our family, we’ll find more fulfillment and satisfaction in the work we do.
After this episode, I bet you need a brain dump to work out how entropy can shift your perspective. My free brain dump guide will help you empty your head so that you can refill and reframe with calm clarity.
Then remember. Life is for God’s glory, not our own.
So. Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:16122237#077: Life will change. It’s okhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc077/
Sat, 19 Jan 2019 10:28:48 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=121511<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we grow in faithfulness, cheerfulness, and resilience, staying engaged in our life at home because it’s where God has placed us to serve. This episode comes from the Organize Your Attitude series I did in 2017 – Know that life will change. Too often we think we’re doing something wrong when our plans or systems stop working, when really life has just moved on to a new place or a new season … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc077/" aria-label="#077: Life will change. It’s ok">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc077/">#077: Life will change. It’s ok</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Knowing that life will change actually can give us enormous freedom from perfectionism and allow us to simply start.Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we grow in faithfulness, cheerfulness, and resilience, staying engaged in our life at home because it’s where God has placed us to serve.<br />
<br />
This episode comes from the Organize Your Attitude series I did in 2017 - Know that life will change. Too often we think we’re doing something wrong when our plans or systems stop working, when really life has just moved on to a new place or a new season and we need to adapt. Nothing will work for forever; adapting and growing needs to be part of our game plan, included in our expectations.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it seems like if you start out knowing your efforts are only temporary and not going to last, you’ll start discouraged and think it’s not worth the time you’re investing. However, it could also have the opposite effect.Mystie Wincklerclean3:52121511#076: Homeschooling Middle School Boyshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc076-homeschooling-middle-school/
Mon, 14 Jan 2019 11:45:14 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=121177<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog, where we practice managing our lives with fruitful, faithful resilience, overcoming distraction and discouragement, so we can glorify God in our work and our attitudes. Today’s audio blog is a favorite of mine from 2018. I wrote it after our local CM book club began Brandy Vencel’s Start Here Guide through Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles. We discussed principle 1 and it struck me that we need to remember to apply our principles not … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc076-homeschooling-middle-school/" aria-label="#076: Homeschooling Middle School Boys">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/sc076-homeschooling-middle-school/">#076: Homeschooling Middle School Boys</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog, where we practice managing our lives with fruitful, faithful resilience, overcoming distraction and discouragement, so we can glorify God in our work and our attitudes.In this podcast, Mystie reminds us of the joys, challenges, and rewards associated with homeschooling and raising our middle school children.Mystie Wincklerclean13:18121177#075: Set Your Mind - Intentionally.https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/set-your-mind/
Mon, 07 Jan 2019 10:43:31 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=109174<p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we learn to walk more and more in fruitfulness and faithfulness in the midst of the mundane. I’m Mystie Winckler, homeschooling mother of 5, and every day I’m staying engaged in my family duties, learning to love what must be done, and organizing my attitude – because it needs it more than my closets. I’m glad you’ve joined me for this episode on how to set your mind on things that are … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/set-your-mind/" aria-label="#075: Set Your Mind – Intentionally.">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2019/set-your-mind/">#075: Set Your Mind – Intentionally.</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we learn to walk more and more in fruitfulness and faithfulness in the midst of the mundane. I’m Mystie Winckler, homeschooling mother of 5, and every day I’m staying engaged in my family duties,Organizing your attitude begins with self-control - the ability to change what you're thinking about. You can set your mind where it should be: on truth.Mystie Wincklerclean4:53109174#074: Organize your attitude: a conversation with Virginia Lee Rogershttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/organize-your-attitude-a-conversation-with-virginia-lee/
Mon, 31 Dec 2018 21:06:01 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=109146<p>Welcome to a new year and a new plan for the Simply Convivial Audio blog – also known as the Simplified Organization and the Convivial Homeschool audio blogs. Last year I merged my two blogs into one and so it seems fitting that this year I merge the two podcasts into one. Every week a new audio blog post will publish on Mondays – no seasons, no themes, just another 10ish minute short but meaty focus session to help you … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/organize-your-attitude-a-conversation-with-virginia-lee/" aria-label="#074: Organize your attitude: a conversation with Virginia Lee">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/organize-your-attitude-a-conversation-with-virginia-lee/">#074: Organize your attitude: a conversation with Virginia Lee</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>simple ways to beat the winter funk before it begins
Last year I merged my two blogs into one and so it seems fitting that this year I merge the two podcasts into one.
Every week a new audio blog post will publish on Mondays – no seasons, no themes, just another 10ish minute short but meaty focus session to help you keep your head in the game as a homeschool mom who is juggling many plates while wearing many hats.
No matter what the topic each week, you’ll be redirected to focus your attention on Christ, on faithful stewardship and obedience, and on doing the right next thing – whether that’s in your own head, in your homeschool, or in your house.
But we’re kicking off the year with a conversation Virginia Lee Rogers and I had about keeping our attitudes organized in the midst of real life.
Enjoy!

Thank you for joining me for this session of the Simply Convivial Audio Blog.
Start reclaiming your attitude with the all new, redesigned brain dump guide that will walk you through regaining calm clarity inside your own head. Sarah Mackenzie called it a brilliant hack and I think you’ll agree.
Remember: Life is for sanctification. Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean8:14109146SO073: Living From a State of Resthttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so073/
Mon, 01 Oct 2018 11:36:18 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=74162<p>Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety! Decision fatigue is super real, and it’s not just our kids pestering that puts us over the edge, it’s ourselves also. Our own minds are always going, going, going. And that’s one reason why we’re brain dumping, we’re getting … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so073/" aria-label="SO073: Living From a State of Rest">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so073/">SO073: Living From a State of Rest</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety!Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom
This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety!

Decision fatigue is super real, and it’s not just our kids pestering that puts us over the edge, it’s ourselves also. Our own minds are always going, going, going. And that’s one reason why we’re brain dumping, we’re getting it out of our heads so that our own head is not pestering us. So, we have to find ways because, I think, we also might find a way to arrange for the kids to give us 30 minutes of not talking to us and then we find that didn’t help as much as I thought it would because the distraction mode is still here. Even if we turn the phone off, even if we send the kids away, then we find the problem’s still here. Brain dump, brain dump, brain dump, organization can bring more peace.
A lot of the ways you see organization on Pinterest or that kind of thing where it means label makers and matching containers and a perfect cleaning schedule where you take all the buckets out and wipe down the inside of the cabinet every month that increases our feelings of obligation and increases our feelings of inadequacy – like, that’s just not going to work in my life, what do I do now because I’m incompetent on so many levels? When this is the problem, when it’s in our heads, it’s one of three things (and these are the last three things on my list I was telling you about). We need peace from three things.
So this is our own internal problems that are giving us unrest. One is anxiety, and I feel completely unable to really deeply address that one because I know so many people struggle with anxiety as a real, deep-seated, maybe even chemical issue, but anxiety is going to steal your peace and steal your rest. It makes rest impossible so we have to address it, we can’t just live with it, we have to address it. Isaiah 40 for anxiety, Philippians 4. Anxiety is actually a sin and we need to repent and then we need to rejoice and then we need to do it over and over again. So, sometimes we think that because if we keep doing it then I’m either off the hook or I’m a lost case but it’s just something that we have to keep doing. And then the peace of God is given to us when we pray with thanksgiving. Like, actually repenting instead of just feeling bad. Sometimes just feeling bad is us laying ourselves off the hook, but actually calling it a sin, asking God to help us, and Philippians 4 says “with gratitude,” and that doesn’t mean so I’m thankful for fluffy kittens and blue skies, it’s be grateful in the situation that you’re in because you can always be thankful for Jesus, right? So, be thankful even within the situation where you are, not for things outside your situation, but for inside your situation, prayer, with thanksgiving, making your requests know then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. It’s a pretty clear verse, and we can keep coming back to it. That’s why it’s repent, rejoice, repeat. It’s not a once and done thing and now we’re never going to have this problem again. It’s going to keep being an ongoing problem but every time it is it’s like, ‘oh, I know what to do’ and it’s that knowing what to do that brings us rest. So, it’s not even about an escape from it or solving it, it’s knowing what to do that brings the peace. Well, God brings the peace but that’s a big part of it.
OK, but the two big ones … that one’s like it’s own big huge category … and the two every day peace stealers and unrest creators are decision fatigue and the feeling of vague obligation. There are so many things I should be doing I don’t even know what they all are. How many people have ever felt like that? I have so many things I don’t even know what they all are, vague obligation.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:4974162CH072: Teaching is Hard & Worth It: Seneca on Educationhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch072/
Wed, 26 Sep 2018 11:43:37 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=73259<p>Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education Seneca here warns us of two opposing dangers, two ditches on either side of our right path: either building resentment and anger in our children (how he says this happens might surprise you) or by stifling and smashing their personalities and energy. In our talk of classical education or a liberal arts education, we must keep our definitions and our aim in view. The liberal arts boil down to studying wisdom. Wisdom comes … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch072/" aria-label="CH072: Teaching is Hard & Worth It: Seneca on Education">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch072/">CH072: Teaching is Hard & Worth It: Seneca on Education</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education Seneca here warns us of two opposing dangers, two ditches on either side of our right path: either building resentment and anger in our children (how he says this happens might surprise you) or by stif...Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education
Seneca here warns us of two opposing dangers, two ditches on either side of our right path: either building resentment and anger in our children (how he says this happens might surprise you) or by stifling and smashing their personalities and energy.
In our talk of classical education or a liberal arts education, we must keep our definitions and our aim in view. The liberal arts boil down to studying wisdom. Wisdom comes to us in many forms, and the liberal arts are concerned with wisdom in all its forms – not mere information or raw skills. It is knowledge with purpose, knowledge with application for all of life.
The result of an education in wisdom is a resilient integrity which knows what should be done and has the strength of mind and body to do it.
Read the original posts:

Simple Sanity Saver: Math-U-See Tips
Math-U-See begins with the concept of place value and returns to place value to teach every new function. Without place value, you can’t understand why numbers do what they do when you start combining them, so it is important.
Math-U-See has some handy sayings for learning place value – like “Every number has a place” and “place means value.” The numeral 9, for example, means 9 units if it’s in the unit place, but it means 9 tens if it’s in the tens place. It has been quite helpful to have this vocabulary to show my beginning-regroupers that 12 + 8 does not equal 2. Without the zero, that means 2 units, not two tens – you need the zero to put the 2 in the ten place.
Place value is also helpful when they want to work equations from left to right, like reading and writing. No, with math you have to start at the unit place and move up the “street” from there.
Place value brings greater clarity to long division, too. And when you hand your student graph paper on which to do his figuring (highly recommended), you can always remind him, “Keep each number in its right place!” and he might sigh and slump, but he knows what you’re talking about.
So here is my 4th tip for MUS users that is actually applicable regardless of program.
I got this tip from Mr. Demme himself.
Place value in Math-U-See is important. Keeping numbers straight and in their right place is critical, no matter which math program you use.
My older students use graph paper to show their work, but that seems a bit excessive (and also not large enough squares) for the elementary students. Once they get into carrying or borrowing, though, it’s super handy and leads to fewer place-value flubs if you simply turn a lined piece of notebook paper on the side to help you keep the numbers in their right place.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:4673259CH073: All God’s Truth: Clement on Classical Christian Educationhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch073/
Tue, 25 Sep 2018 22:32:32 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=74165<p>Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education The classical tradition does not see itself as a new thing, but as part of the stream of Western civilization that started in Greece, grew in the middle ages, has suffered much recently, but still exists, particularly if we educate our children in its gifts and blessings and warnings. It is the culture of a people who sought truth, of a people then who met Truth, of a people who tried – though … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch073/" aria-label="CH073: All God’s Truth: Clement on Classical Christian Education">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch073/">CH073: All God’s Truth: Clement on Classical Christian Education</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education The classical tradition does not see itself as a new thing, but as part of the stream of Western civilization that started in Greece, grew in the middle ages, has suffered much recently,Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education
The classical tradition does not see itself as a new thing, but as part of the stream of Western civilization that started in Greece, grew in the middle ages, has suffered much recently, but still exists, particularly if we educate our children in its gifts and blessings and warnings. It is the culture of a people who sought truth, of a people then who met Truth, of a people who tried – though messily and often wrongly – to make truth the basis of their state and kingdoms, and always of a people who wanted truth more than anything else.
Yet another definition of education, fully in line with so many others: Knowing Truth + conforming ourselves to Truth = wisdom. It has been said in a variety of ways by a variety of people, but that is the essence of a classical education.
Education that aims at anything less than soul-formation aims too low.
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Simple Sanity Saver: Math-U-See Tips
I am so glad that when my oldest was 4 or 5, I had two real-life friends rave about Math-U-See. Not only did they rave, but one of them sat me down and had me watch the “adding 9s” lesson. I was sold then and there.
Perhaps part of the reason I like Math-U-See is that it is pretty much the opposite of Saxon, and I hated Saxon as a homeschooled student. MUS has short lessons, focuses on mastery, and uses manipulatives to teach, even in 5th & 6th & 7th grade, making math very concrete. MUS also has no instruction in the student text, instead parent & student are supposed to view the DVD instruction together and the teacher’s manual gives suggestions for teaching the concept to the student (without a script).
I appreciate and value the mastery approach of Math-U-See, and they emphasize knowing the facts perfectly before moving on. However, if they don’t use them, they lose them, and knowing the facts isn’t the same as being able to do them quickly.

So we add drill practice to our daily math routine, at least for the elementary students. I use both xtramath.org (love it!) and Calculadder. We’ve also added times table chanting to Morning Time before because those facts needed review.
No matter what program you’re using, we as the homeschool mom need to be alert and wise in applying it and adding in supplements or taking a break or pausing to review based on what each child needs to make progress.
When I see a specific skill needs to be reviewed, we take a break from the current lesson and go back to practicing the foundational skill that is causing the errors – yes, sometimes that’s even meant practicing number formation because 4s look like 9s or 6s look like 0s.
This approach does require teacher awareness and involvement. Welcome to homeschooling – we signed up for this gig.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean16:0474165SO072: The 3 Kinds of Rest We Needhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so072/
Mon, 24 Sep 2018 10:51:06 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=73168<p>Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety! Transcript Finally, we have mental rest. And I think this is the category that we are least aware of, but that is actually tripping us up the most. I’m currently reading the book Deep Work by Cal Newport and … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so072/" aria-label="SO072: The 3 Kinds of Rest We Need">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so072/">SO072: The 3 Kinds of Rest We Need</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety!Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom
This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety!

Transcript
Finally, we have mental rest. And I think this is the category that we are least aware of, but that is actually tripping us up the most. I’m currently reading the book Deep Work by Cal Newport and I wasn’t even expecting it to tie into these ideas that I was having about rest and what we need to do and all that, but it does. So, when we are tempted to zone out it’s because we are overwhelmed, right? We are overwhelmed by all the details, all the distractions, all the things going on in our life, all the people asking us questions all the time, and even sometimes we’re asking ourselves questions all the time. We don’t know what we’re supposed to be doing, we don’t know where the thing is; everything feels like a scramble. Am I right? And, sometimes it’s not because you need physical rest, and it’s not because you need spiritual rest. Sometimes it’s just because life is full of all these inputs and it’s chaotic and overwhelming, and we don’t have what it takes to order it all, to put it into order. It’s all coming out of us and it’s all chaotic and messy, and we don’t know what to do. And then we feel worse because we don’t know what to do with it all. It’s just all coming at us. And, all I can think to do is to just turn it all off.
So, I think if you’re feeling of ‘I need rest’ comes out as ‘turn it all off’ then this is where you need to really start brain dumping and applying and thinking. You don’t necessarily have to assume you have a spiritual problem. We have to make sure that that’s in order first, but it doesn’t necessarily … feeling like you just need to turn it all off, you just can’t handle it anymore, it’s not necessarily a spiritual problem. It’s partly the way our current world is running with the priority on distraction mode, and when we’re in a distracted state that is the opposite of peace. We don’t know how to get to peace. If we are functioning completely in distracted mode all the time we actually lose the ability to basically think in a straight line. And, unless we can think in a straight line we aren’t going to be able to problem solve, we aren’t going to be able to provide the counseling and parenting that our children really need, because it’s so hard to pay attention.
So, distraction is the opposite of attention, and attentiveness is the ability to pay attention is sometimes what we actually are needing when we feel like we need rest. It’s a feeling of ‘I need to turn off this distraction mode and have a time where I can actually have a complete thought and move forward with that complete thought.’ So, that’s one reason why taking a walk helps (yes, walking in a straight line physically helps the brain feel more linear – that’s perfect). So, in the book Deep Work, Cal Newport is talking about how we need to set aside undistracted time, and you know, pretty much his only solution is just turn the internet off, like how hard, just do it. And have one project that you just work on. And it’s like, well, yeah, that’d be nice if I had an office door I could close and just turn off the internet connection – that would turn off all the distractions, not. The internet might provide another layer of distractions but we’ve got so many things coming at us all the time that you could take a step and do the easy things like turning the notifications on your phone off (that’s a good one) but we can find times like this even in a house full of children who need us all day. One of the things that we need to do is to realize that we have to. So when we feel … we feel guilty if we feel like we just have to shut this all off. So we have all these distractions,]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:4973168CH071: Fruitful Subjects of Study: Tacitus & Philo on the Liberal Artshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch071/
Wed, 12 Sep 2018 12:57:15 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=72973<p>Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education General and wide knowledge is the foundation of the educated mind, the roots that nourish it and cause it to grow. It is only from a wealth of learning, and a multitude of accomplishments, and a knowledge that is universal that his marvelous eloquence wells forth like a mighty stream. For The acquisition of all the preliminary branches of education is wholly necessary [to attain virtue]. In order to bear fruit, we must … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch071/" aria-label="CH071: Fruitful Subjects of Study: Tacitus & Philo on the Liberal Arts">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch071/">CH071: Fruitful Subjects of Study: Tacitus & Philo on the Liberal Arts</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education General and wide knowledge is the foundation of the educated mind, the roots that nourish it and cause it to grow. It is only from a wealth of learning, and a multitude of accomplishments,Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education
General and wide knowledge is the foundation of the educated mind, the roots that nourish it and cause it to grow.

It is only from a wealth of learning, and a multitude of accomplishments, and a knowledge that is universal that his marvelous eloquence wells forth like a mighty stream.

For

The acquisition of all the preliminary branches of education is wholly necessary [to attain virtue].

In order to bear fruit, we must learn and know.
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Simple Sanity Saver: Math-U-See Tips
I am not a math person. Math has been the subject that daunts me most when I think about the big picture of homeschooling. Or, at least, it did. Now that I’m 9 years into this gig (if you start counting with Kindergarten) and I have an 8th grader who is about to finish Algebra, I’m neither daunted nor worried.

Math-U-See Tip #3: Pull out the pages, use clipboards, have a “turn in” container

This Math-U-See workflow is probably my best tip.

First, I tear out the math page to be completed each day from the workbook. The kids do not handle the workbooks themselves directly. If they did, the covers would be torn in no time and I’d have a headache figuring out what I’m supposed to be assigning and checking in each of the 4 books that won’t stay open to be checked.

After all, Math-U-See is a mastery-based program. My kids never do all the pages in the book and sometimes they need more pages than are included in the book (we use the tests as extra work pages and also print extra practice off their website). When I tear out their workpages and stick them on their color-coded clipboards, it doesn’t matter whether I pulled the page from the workbook, the test book, or off the printer – they know and I know their math for the day is on their clipboard.

Plus, we make them correct their work until they get 100% – mastery approach, right? So if a page wasn’t 100%, it goes back to the clipboard. Whatever is on the clipboard is the work to be done.

And where does it go when it’s done? At one point they were supposed to put it onto my clipboard when they were finished so I could check. However, my clipboard could be anywhere and it always had other things I wanted to see on top, too. They couldn’t always find it and I didn’t really want those extra pages cluttering it up.

So, I bought a mail sorter and it lives on the counter. When they finish their math, it goes into the mail sorter to be checked. If it’s all correct, the page goes into the trash or fire-starter bin. If it needs another attempt, it goes back on the clipboard.

Now that my husband checks the math, this process also makes it obvious to him when there’s math to correct. If it’s in the mail sorter, he knows it’s his to-do.

Figuring out a workflow process so everyone knows exactly what needs to be done with the least amount of rifling and questioning is the goal.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean11:4172973SO071: Rest Isn’t Easyhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so071/
Mon, 10 Sep 2018 13:00:19 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=72971<p>Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety! Transcript So, an example is our family’s EHAP. So, EHAP is one of those things, it’s part of Sweep and Smile, it’s a part of the Simplified Organization Course that means Everything Has A Place. Sometimes everything doesn’t have … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so071/" aria-label="SO071: Rest Isn’t Easy">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so071/">SO071: Rest Isn’t Easy</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety! Transcript So,Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom
This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety!

Transcript
So, an example is our family’s EHAP. So, EHAP is one of those things, it’s part of Sweep and Smile, it’s a part of the Simplified Organization Course that means Everything Has A Place. Sometimes everything doesn’t have a place, that’s why there’s more decision fatigue because you’re like, where do I put this thing? Giving things a home is one way we eliminate decision fatigue. So, it’s a project. It’s something that we do that’s going to have the payoff of rest after it’s done. EHAP is the time to put things back where they belong and it has a time and it has a place every day. At our house it’s about five o’clock most evenings. Not every single evening but most evenings at five o’clock is EHAP. That means at three o’clock when the house is a wreck and I feel like “AHHH, I’ve got to do something about this now,” take a deep breath, and we don’t have to do something about this now, we’re going to do something about it at five, so right now I can let the kids be doing their thing and not interrupt them because I feel crazy. I’m the one that has to take a deep breath and say, “We’ve got this handled, it’s OK.” There’s a time for everything and everything in its time. So, everything in its home and everything in its time that’s when we can take that breath and know that the decision then has been made, it’s not an immediate problem, it’s not a vague problem.
So, we have to systematically work through our responsibilities and our obligations and our time and our home, and in various ways put things in their home. That is how we then build the mental rest in our own heads. And yes, we can then, also, build time where we aren’t being interrupted and asked a million questions. But, here’s another thing to add to your brain dump. Throughout the week, write down the various kinds or maybe even specific questions your kids are asking. And maybe there are decisions that can be made upfront. Like, are they asking questions because they really want to know what’s happening because it’s always up in the air? Like, the more things that are always up in the air the more chatter there’s going to be from the kids and from your own head. But, if breakfast is always oatmeal because no one asks, “What’s for breakfast?” One of my favorites is if the kids ask what’s for dinner? I say, “Food.” I don’t have to think about it. I might have my menu planned but sometimes, ask me at a certain time and I don’t know, we’re going to have something or sometimes I’m just making something and it doesn’t have a name, so then you’re thinking ‘food, we’re going to have food.’ Finding those little things that just turn off the stress response is the distraction looking for an answer that is where we’re going to start finding mental peace and clarity. So, maybe pay attention to the questions that you’re asked this week and see if there’s a common thread or note which ones are most draining to you, and is there a way that you can arrange the day or just have a pat answer that eliminates the stress that comes when the question comes.
Sometimes these are really easy, really simple if we look intentionally at it, but when we get into distracted mode it takes work and intention to get out of it, and that’s where I am right now in the Deep Work book, I’m in the rules section. But he’s really developing how hard it is to move from distracted to thinking in a straight line again. And how intentional we have to be and that it’s really like a muscle that we have to grow. So, if we’ve been in distracted mode for a really long time it’s not going to be abo...]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:3872971CH070: Duties & Delights: Quintilian on Teachers & Studentshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch070/
Wed, 05 Sep 2018 12:33:36 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=72277<p>Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education So, Quintilian wants us to know it’s important what kind of teacher we give our children over to. Do we think this matters less because the teacher is ourselves? No, if we choose to be the teachers ourselves, we must also choose to be the sort of person we would entrust our children to. Nor is it sufficient that he should merely set an example of the highest personal self-control; he must also … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch070/" aria-label="CH070: Duties & Delights: Quintilian on Teachers & Students">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch070/">CH070: Duties & Delights: Quintilian on Teachers & Students</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education So, Quintilian wants us to know it’s important what kind of teacher we give our children over to. Do we think this matters less because the teacher is ourselves? No,Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education
So, Quintilian wants us to know it’s important what kind of teacher we give our children over to. Do we think this matters less because the teacher is ourselves? No, if we choose to be the teachers ourselves, we must also choose to be the sort of person we would entrust our children to.

Nor is it sufficient that he should merely set an example of the highest personal self-control; he must also be able to govern the behavior of his pupils by the strictness of his discipline.

There must be encouragement and praise that is sincere and honest. I think this is a huge part of our children enjoying the process and their days of “great industry” at home.

As it is the duty of the master to teach, so it is the duty of the pupil to show himself teachable. The two obligations are mutually indispensable. […] Eloquence [completion of education] can never come to maturity unless teacher and taught are in perfect sympathy.

Quintilian wants young children to be exposed to literary thought and literary quality, because they are naturally receptive and retentive at this age – so what they are exposed to will matter to their entire course of life.
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Simple Sanity Saver: Math-U-See Tips
It’s possible to wing math in the early years, but because math is a consecutive skill, where one concept builds upon another, it’s best to choose a program and stick with it. Different programs use different vocabulary. Different programs teach concepts in different orders, but different logical, step-by-step orders – so skipping around between programs can lead to gaps and confusion more than in any other subject.
In the last almost-decade of sticking with the same program and walking 4 students (and soon starting my 5th) through the process, these are my top 5 tips for using and organizing Math-U-See.
Math-U-See Tip #2: Reserved Crayons

In Primer and Alpha, kids do quite a bit of coloring with their math. As they learn the blocks in the first few lessons, they’re supposed to color the blocks the right color. With my first student, we hunted around the crayon bin every time, with my son constantly asking, “Is this an ok color? Is this one ok?”

When I ordered Primer for my third, knowing I had at least 2 more after her, I got smart and set aside hand-picked crayons. I pulled out the colors that best matched the blocks and stuck them in a small container that lives in our math book bin.

When she sat down with her lesson page, she had the little container with just 10 crayons, and it was clear which color was intended.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean12:5872277SO070: The Rest that God Giveshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so070/
Tue, 04 Sep 2018 12:45:43 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=72275<p>Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety! Transcript So, start off by listing the things that you currently do for rest. What do you currently do when you feel like you need a break? Of those things that you do for rest which ones do you … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so070/" aria-label="SO070: The Rest that God Gives">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so070/">SO070: The Rest that God Gives</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety! Transcript So,Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom
This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety!

Transcript
So, start off by listing the things that you currently do for rest. What do you currently do when you feel like you need a break? Of those things that you do for rest which ones do you feel rested after doing? Because not everything that we do to take a break helps us feel better afterwards. So, if we don’t feel better afterwards, if we don’t feel rested and restored after doing it, it’s not a break. Maybe it’s stopping doing our work but it’s not rest. We have to be examining what we’re doing and whether or not it’s what we should be doing and perhaps there’s guilt involved because what we’re doing for rest isn’t restful so it doesn’t help so our anxiety and our stress is actually building instead of releasing. It just kind of builds and is a mess. We’re going to be taking a step back.
Let’s talk about the goal for rest. So, Erika says, “Everything I do to rest I do restful during I but I feel guilty afterwards.’ So, maybe after reading a book you do feel rested and maybe after reading a book you don’t. It can depend on the situation and what else is going on or the kind of book. There are multiple things going on pretty much all the time so that’s why we have to brain dump and really start following those connections and like, ‘what’s the difference between this time where I felt rested after reading a book or maybe even after watching a TV show and this time where it wasn’t?’ Sometimes you’re even too tired to read so we need to figure out the kind of rest that we need, the kind of tired that we are so that we know what to build more of into our life.
So, what’s the goal for resting? If we step back and look at the end – keep the end in mind – that will help us not feel guilty when we are legitimately resting, and it will help us recognize true rest from fake rest. So, the goal for resting is to be rested. This isn’t super deep. The goal of resting is peace and restoration/refreshment. If we go into rest as leisure and scholé (Peiper’s book, “The Basis of Culture” takes us on a journey on exploring leisure and its purpose) and it goes toward worship. And I think that is a good insight for us as we think about rest.
Of course, the Bible talks about rest as connected to the Sabbath a lot. And, the point of the Sabbath is worship. When we have a mind and a soul at peace we can be grateful, we can be attentive even to God, and attentive to what He is doing in our life right now instead of, maybe, what we’re trying to do in our life. We can be more open and receptive when our minds and our souls and our bodies are at peace. But when our bodies are tired and fatigued, when our mind is distracted, and when we haven’t been spending any time in God’s Word, with God’s people, worshiping then these are all blocks, blockage, obstacles to finding rest which is from God – real rest is from God – even if it comes after a novel, it’s a blessing that we can have and that is good for us because God rested on the seventh day not because He needed a break but because that is the end of work, that’s enjoying the work, that’s what He did. He didn’t go find entertainment he was taking enjoyment from His work and that was how He rested. He wasn’t doing work but He was enjoying the fruits of His work and that was rest, and so that’s why then there’s the Sabbath (it follows this model). God was modeling a pattern that He wanted us to follow: work, and then enjoy the work, enjoy the fruits of the work. It’s OK and good and right to not be go, go, go, work, work, work, productive mode all the time. That is not God’s will for us. It is God’s will for us to do our duty and part of our duty ...]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:3672275CH069: Imagination & Expectation: Quintilian on Educationhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch069/
Wed, 29 Aug 2018 06:35:00 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=71819<p>Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education We can’t simply demand character out of a person, nor can we explain it with abstract and theoretical definitions and expect that to be sufficient. We have to illustrate – model, tell stories, practice, make analogies – if we want to help people (ourselves, our children) change. And doing so is demanding. It’s hard work. It’s good work. It’s necessary work. It is best and easiest to begin how we mean to go … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch069/" aria-label="CH069: Imagination & Expectation: Quintilian on Education">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch069/">CH069: Imagination & Expectation: Quintilian on Education</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education We can’t simply demand character out of a person, nor can we explain it with abstract and theoretical definitions and expect that to be sufficient. We have to illustrate – model, tell stories,Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education
We can’t simply demand character out of a person, nor can we explain it with abstract and theoretical definitions and expect that to be sufficient. We have to illustrate – model, tell stories, practice, make analogies – if we want to help people (ourselves, our children) change.
And doing so is demanding. It’s hard work. It’s good work. It’s necessary work.
It is best and easiest to begin how we mean to go on – to start on the path we want to finish – rather than meander aimlessly and then think we can backtrack or fast track to where we want to be later on.
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]]>Mystie Wincklerclean8:5871819SO069: Busy Moms: There is No Guilt in Restinghttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so069/
Mon, 27 Aug 2018 13:45:26 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=71815<p>Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety! Transcript And, thank you all for the participation even before we began on what is rest. I think that we’re all, kind of, on the same page – is what it sounds like because this is what I was … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so069/" aria-label="SO069: Busy Moms: There is No Guilt in Resting">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so069/">SO069: Busy Moms: There is No Guilt in Resting</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety! Transcript And,Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom
This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety!

Transcript
And, thank you all for the participation even before we began on what is rest. I think that we’re all, kind of, on the same page – is what it sounds like because this is what I was thinking, so I’m glad to see that we are not alone, right? It’s easy to think that when we’re at home just doing our thing, that it’s like, ‘I must be the only one that struggles with this,’ but, you’re not. This is life and it’s part of our sanctification and you’re not alone. We all have these struggles. This is just the struggle of being human and of trying to live out God’s will for us, cheerfully, and gracefully, and repent-fully. What’s the adverb form of repentance?
So, you’re going to get a lot more out of this if you follow along with pen and paper. So, even if you are folding laundry – doing something – grab a notebook, grab a pen, and work through this exercise with me. This is going to be brain dumping. As we put things onto paper it helps us collect ourselves, collect our thoughts, and achieve more calm, rather than letting all the thoughts jumble up in our heads that’s distracting and we’re trying to hold all the things in our heads we can’t use our heads to think things through, to think things out, and to come up with creative solutions to have just the mental space to problem solve.
When we put the details and our thoughts and our connections and our troubles – all those things that pop into our head – instead of letting them just keep popping into our head, if we put them down onto paper it helps us think about them, instead of just the thoughts popping up we can think about them and start to figure things out. Distraction really drains us and that’s one of the things we’ll be talking about. When we can just collect those random thoughts that pop in it helps us remain calm and clear and not worry about forgetting the needful things, even if it’s ‘I need to buy milk at the grocery store’ – it’s amazing how much those little thoughts can collect and build and really clutter up our heads.
I really hope that you get a lot of actionable ideas out of this, not necessarily because it’s advice from me but because through the process of thinking about the different categories and really doing some self-examination and some life-examination you can figure out a change that works for you and your life and your needs right now because it’s going to be different for each person – what you need to focus on and what you need to do. There’s not one right way. There’s not a one-size fits all solution at all. So, we have to be able to take responsibility for our own selves and our own lives and prayerfully and repentantly (I think that’s right) move forward from where we are to the next step that is part of our sanctification.
OK, I have three different kinds of rest that we need and then three things that we need rest from. So, we’re going to start with the different kinds of rests that we need because I think that sometimes we’re so jumbled and we’re so distracted and we’re so tired and fatigued that it feels like any rest is the right rest or a good rest. And we do need rest and some of it is good but we need to figure out the kind of rest that we are lacking and maybe it will be all three kinds but they are different types of rest. So, we have to build in these three different types of rest to our lives. And, one kind – they’ll build on each other and they’ll help each other but they’re different aspects of our lives that we do need to take and we can take them intentionally without guilt because these are clearly good things. Rest is a good thing.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:5971815CH068: Homeschool Math Tips with Virginia Leehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch068/
Thu, 23 Aug 2018 22:02:28 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=70731<p>Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education Listen: Transcript Mystie: Alright, well, welcome to season 12. I’m so excited to get this season started, and I’m here today with Virginia Lee to start our season off. Virginia Lee: Hi, everyone. Mystie: For the podcast this season the Simple Sanity Saver is Math-U-See tips. Even if you don’t use Math-U-See I think you’ll still be able to pick up some ideas, some tips, some things to think about. So, what ages … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch068/" aria-label="CH068: Homeschool Math Tips with Virginia Lee">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch068/">CH068: Homeschool Math Tips with Virginia Lee</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education Listen: Transcript Mystie: Alright, well, welcome to season 12. I’m so excited to get this season started, and I’m here today with Virginia Lee to start our season off. Virginia Lee: Hi, everyone.Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education

Listen:

Transcript
Mystie: Alright, well, welcome to season 12. I’m so excited to get this season started, and I’m here today with Virginia Lee to start our season off.
Virginia Lee: Hi, everyone.
Mystie: For the podcast this season the Simple Sanity Saver is Math-U-See tips. Even if you don’t use Math-U-See I think you’ll still be able to pick up some ideas, some tips, some things to think about. So, what ages and grades do you have, Virginia Lee?
Virginia Lee: I have a 13 year old son and I have a 10 year old daughter, I have an 8 year old daughter, I have a 5 year old son, and a 2 year old daughter. The only ones, obviously my younger ones are not doing math yet, everyone who is doing math is using Math-U-See.
Mystie: And us, too. And my oldest has actually just started Algebra 2 so we’re, kind of, getting into the program.
Virginia Lee: So, I have to ask – Algebra 2 – then he’s pretty good at math for high school years, I’m assuming, with that, seeing as he’s 15 and he’s in Algebra 2?
Mystie: Yes, that is ahead of the scope and sequence, I think, which is really interesting to me because for several years in elementary he was actually behind.
Virginia Lee: It just goes to show the great part about mastery with Math-U-See then.
Mystie: I think it just started clicking, maybe about 12, but it took a little bit more than two years to get through Alpha.
Virginia Lee: OK.
Mystie: And then it took about two years to get through Beta. It felt like, ‘Oh man – OK, we’ll just do it.’
Virginia Lee: You know what though? I’m glad you brought that up because that’s actually one of the things I really like about Math-U-See, is that it is mastery based, so it’s OK if it takes longer for your kiddos to go through Alpha or Beta or wherever they are because it’s not grade levels. It’s just levels of math that are not hooked to a grade and you do not move forward until you’ve mastered one concept. And, I think that has a lot to do why when later on, things start clicking for our kiddos. It can do that because you really have mastered everything before that point. And, I’m also just a big believer in as long as you’re moving forward that’s what counts.
Mystie: And that really helped me at one point when I had all young elementary and it didn’t seem like we were making that great of progress, being behind in math as homeschoolers was one of my fears, because it seems kind of …
Virginia Lee: Yes.
Mystie: Well, it was true for myself and several of my siblings and that was something I didn’t want to continue. So, I was starting to get a little nervous and I actually found YouTube videos by Steve Demme – they must have … I don’t know if they’re around anymore because I’ve tried several times to find them again and I have not found them – they were like Q&A videos so, of course, they were pretty much all questions like, “My son’s behind what do I do?”
Virginia Lee: Yes, the homeschool mom panic questions.
Mystie: “We stayed in this lesson for f-o-r-e-v-e-r.” And, yet he did that. You’re never behind, you’re where you are, math is progressive, you can’t skip anything. And, if they haven’t mastered it you, basically, are skipping ahead and you’re going to get burned in the end, so just stick with it and when things click everything else is going to smooth the way later and their mind will be free from the arithmetic part of the math to think about the concepts.
Virginia Lee: Yes, and I like that about Math-U-See also that they take really important basic math concepts and they start from the concrete and build to the abstract so that as you’re being introduced to something that’s very important for understanding math but that’s new to the child (and sometimes the mom) …
Mystie: Definitely!
]]>Mystie Wincklerclean15:1670731SO068: Realistic Ways to Rest for Moms with Virginia Leehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so068/
Mon, 20 Aug 2018 12:35:53 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=70729<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so068/">SO068: Realistic Ways to Rest for Moms with Virginia Lee</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Mystie Wincklerclean7:1870729CH067: Thoughts on Jayber Crow and Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berryhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch067/
Wed, 06 Jun 2018 13:30:47 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=63860<p>Season 11 : Good Books to Read Somehow, Berry makes you feel affection for all mankind, even those who aren’t likable and maybe even those who are wicked but especially for those who are foolish — which is each one of us. “Membership” with one another is the underlying thread in them both, and these novels have given that word much more depth and richness than I had ever seen in it. Read the original post: Jayber Crow by Wendell … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch067/" aria-label="CH067: Thoughts on Jayber Crow and Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch067/">CH067: Thoughts on Jayber Crow and Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 11 : Good Books to Read Somehow, Berry makes you feel affection for all mankind, even those who aren’t likable and maybe even those who are wicked but especially for those who are foolish — which is each one of us.Season 11 : Good Books to Read
Somehow, Berry makes you feel affection for all mankind, even those who aren’t likable and maybe even those who are wicked but especially for those who are foolish — which is each one of us.
“Membership” with one another is the underlying thread in them both, and these novels have given that word much more depth and richness than I had ever seen in it.
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Listen:
Simple Sanity Saver: Scholé
Cindy Rollins used to say that she taught her boys the humanities so that when the rats were nibbling their toes in prison (where they were thrown for their faith, hopefully, and not for wrongdoing, but either way) they’d have an interesting place to spend their time: their own minds.
This was years and years ago, so that is a rough paraphrase, of course, but she got me with that one.
The leisure that classical education prepares you for is not the leisure of “the leisure class” – although it began that way historically. Rather, classical education furnishes the mind so that when we have leisure – which we can have in our current society without resorting to slave labor – we can actually enjoy it. Rather than being bored and wishing we were back at work or resorting to mindless entertainment to fill our time, we can enjoy ourselves.
With a fully furnished and active mind, down time, time alone, quiet spaces of time, are a treasure not to be filled idly. We’re able to enjoy contemplative time because we have things to contemplate.
Aristotle was, not surprisingly, the primary source for this concept of scholé education.

We should be able, not only to work well, but to use leisure well. –Aristotle

It does not have to be one or the other, work or rest. Both have a place in the well-ordered life.

What ought we to do when at leisure? Clearly we ought not to be amusing ourselves, for then amusement would be the end of life. – Aristotle

Now, Aristotle does justify a little amusement – we don’t need to shun amusement altogether – but it is to be used sparingly as a remedy and relief for over-busy-ness, not as a habit.
Rather, we should arrange to have spare time, and to use it for leisure:

Leisure of itself gives pleasure and happiness and enjoyment of life, which are experienced, not by the busy man, but by those who have leisure. -Aristotle

And, the education we pursue helps us enjoy our leisure and use it well:

It is clear then that there are branches of learning and education which we must study with a view to the enjoyment of leisure, and these are to be valued for their own sake; whereas those kinds of knowledge which are useful in business are to be deemed necessary, and exist for the sake of other things. -Aristotle

One subject in particular is aimed at promoting a mind that can enjoy leisure:

And therefore our fathers admitted music into education, not on the ground either of its necessity or utility; […] the use of music [is] for intellectual enjoyment in leisure […] this being one of the ways in which it is thought that a freeman should pass his leisure.

Therefore, Aristotle claims:

It is evident, then, that there is a sort of education in which parents should train their sons, not as being useful or necessary, but because it is liberal or noble.

This is an education of and for scholé.

Spread the word!Leaving a re...]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:0963860CH066: Thoughts on Consider This by Karen Glasshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch066/
Wed, 30 May 2018 13:39:46 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=63486<p>Season 11 : Good Books to Read Yes, we pursue knowledge, but not simply for its own sake. Our aim when we are learning and loving knowledge needs to be acting in accordance with the truth we have discovered – wisdom being knowledge, rightly applied. When our knowledge is transformed into action, it becomes virtue, and virtue was the goal of education. Or, as James puts it, But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. She … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch066/" aria-label="CH066: Thoughts on Consider This by Karen Glass">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch066/">CH066: Thoughts on Consider This by Karen Glass</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 11 : Good Books to Read Yes, we pursue knowledge, but not simply for its own sake. Our aim when we are learning and loving knowledge needs to be acting in accordance with the truth we have discovered – wisdom being knowledge, rightly applied.Season 11 : Good Books to Read
Yes, we pursue knowledge, but not simply for its own sake. Our aim when we are learning and loving knowledge needs to be acting in accordance with the truth we have discovered – wisdom being knowledge, rightly applied.

When our knowledge is transformed into action, it becomes virtue, and virtue was the goal of education.

Or, as James puts it,

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

She proves that virtue – right acting – needs to be the end we are pursuing when we educate children (and also ourselves), and demonstrates this is the classical notion about what education is for.
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Listen:
Simple Sanity Saver: Scholé
Scholé, or leisure, is the mode and mood of festival, of celebration.
Pieper, in Leisure, the Basis of Culture, uses the word leisure, but only after he clarifies that leisure and scholé are the same thing. They are synonyms – the same concept coming from different roots. So any of the quotes below could be read with the word scholé instead of leisure and the meaning would be the same.

Leisure is the condition of considering things in a celebratory spirit.

Scholé is more than a practice, it is also a mindset, an orientation toward the world that is looking at its nature in itself rather than

looking at it for its utility or possibility.

The leisure of man includes within itself a celebratory, approving, lingering gaze of the inner eye on the reality of creation.

Thought: Must modern man refuse leisure because he has refused the entire concept of creation. Nothing is created, all is chance, therefore, why dwell on it approvingly?

Leisure is not the attitude of one who intervenes but of one who opens himself; not of one who seizes but who lets go, who lets himself go.

Letting ourselves go here does not mean losing self-control, as we often use the phrase, but rather it is self-forgetfulness. It is not imposing ourself on the world or on the book, but rather immersing ourselves in the world or the book to the degree that we forget time and our own concerns.
And then this dovetails with this quote from The Liberal Arts Tradition about the direction and emphasis of our schools & homeschools:

Classical education seeks rather to build a robust poetic and moral education before it moves to analysis or critique.

If we want a truly grounded, traditionally classical education, we begin with wonder and awe, with copious time out of doors and music and dancing and innumerable stories – not with chants full of random facts or cotton balls glued on construction paper. And even as our children grow and “age out” of the free play stage, still they need space and time and movement and fresh air to allow the connections to form in their minds.
And so do we.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on Apple Podcasts will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:3863486SO067: Family is For Fellowship.https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so067/
Tue, 29 May 2018 03:15:12 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=63858<p>Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips Keeping house or completing other projects are always means, never ends in themselves. They are ways that we serve others and tools we use to bless others. When we become cranky and angry as we work, it is not a sign that we need to repent of our work, but that we need to repent of our attitude. The home atmosphere is one tool for cultivating relationship, it is not a priority over them and … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so067/" aria-label="SO067: Family is For Fellowship.">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so067/">SO067: Family is For Fellowship.</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips Keeping house or completing other projects are always means, never ends in themselves. They are ways that we serve others and tools we use to bless others. When we become cranky and angry as we work,Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips
Keeping house or completing other projects are always means, never ends in themselves. They are ways that we serve others and tools we use to bless others. When we become cranky and angry as we work, it is not a sign that we need to repent of our work, but that we need to repent of our attitude.
The home atmosphere is one tool for cultivating relationship, it is not a priority over them and should not be pitted against them.
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]]>Mystie Wincklerclean63858CH065: Thoughts on Living Page by Laurie Bestvaterhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch065/
Wed, 23 May 2018 20:30:01 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=62397<p>Season 11 : Good Books to Read Here and there, what Bestvater often only hints at, is that keeping a commonplace notebook will make you a different sort of person: a Keeper, a noticer, a thought-connector. Bestvater continually calls this activity a posture; it is a liturgy: it gives space, perception, identity, and meaning. The act of copying is meditative and contemplative, and it makes the thought grow in you just a little more. Read the original post: The Living … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch065/" aria-label="CH065: Thoughts on Living Page by Laurie Bestvater">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch065/">CH065: Thoughts on Living Page by Laurie Bestvater</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 11 : Good Books to Read Here and there, what Bestvater often only hints at, is that keeping a commonplace notebook will make you a different sort of person: a Keeper, a noticer, a thought-connector. Bestvater continually calls this activity a po...Season 11 : Good Books to Read
Here and there, what Bestvater often only hints at, is that keeping a commonplace notebook will make you a different sort of person: a Keeper, a noticer, a thought-connector.
Bestvater continually calls this activity a posture; it is a liturgy: it gives space, perception, identity, and meaning.
The act of copying is meditative and contemplative, and it makes the thought grow in you just a little more.
Read the original post:

Listen:
Simple Sanity Saver: Scholé
Scholé is the Greek word from which the English school is derived. However, it’s translated as leisure, and is best developed in Josef Pieper’s small book, Leisure The Basis of Culture
To the ancient mind, scholé was about pursuing truth and losing oneself in the process. The category was broken down less along productive/unproductive lines, but along self-oriented and truth-oriented. To be out working in the world was to be pushing your own goals forward; to be seeking scholé was to set your own agendas and goals aside for the sake of seeing, experiencing, and seeking truth. Scholé means seeking Truth, Goodness, and Beauty first and foremost, laying aside personal agendas, prideful goals, and desires to control so that we can be open and able to embrace Truth, Goodness, and Beauty when we see it.

And we should be seeing it all over the place. God is True, Good, and Beautiful, and we are reflections of Him, called to increase our reflection of Him more and more as we mature and grow all our lives.
So is our focus in our day-to-day homeschools about achieving our own ends or about encountering Truth, Goodness, and Beauty? It might look exactly the same in method, but it is the motives and the priorities – the heart – that is different.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on Apple Podcasts will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:4562397SO066: 15 Minutes is All You Needhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so066/
Mon, 21 May 2018 09:00:21 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=63482<p>Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips Cleaning and organizing the entire house might be your project, but that’s not going to happen in one day. However, if you set aside 15 minutes every day (or most days, anyway), you can slowly but steadily move toward that object. Embrace the process, the incremental change that you move forward, more than the outcome. We can’t put things off until the perfect moment, because that moment will not come. Read the original post: Embrace … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so066/" aria-label="SO066: 15 Minutes is All You Need">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so066/">SO066: 15 Minutes is All You Need</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips Cleaning and organizing the entire house might be your project, but that’s not going to happen in one day. However, if you set aside 15 minutes every day (or most days, anyway),Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips
Cleaning and organizing the entire house might be your project, but that’s not going to happen in one day.
However, if you set aside 15 minutes every day (or most days, anyway), you can slowly but steadily move toward that object.
Embrace the process, the incremental change that you move forward, more than the outcome.
We can’t put things off until the perfect moment, because that moment will not come.
Read the original post:

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:4263482SO065: Choose Your Expression.https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so065/
Mon, 14 May 2018 14:11:19 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=62395<p>Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips Smiling comes naturally to some and less easily to others, but it is a simple gesture that can steer us clear of self-pity and a downward spiral and an act that is contagious to our children. They will catch and mimic what we model, so we should be conscious of our expressions. Consciously choose the emotions you display, and the outward act of the will can work its way inward to change your actual emotion. … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so065/" aria-label="SO065: Choose Your Expression.">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so065/">SO065: Choose Your Expression.</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips Smiling comes naturally to some and less easily to others, but it is a simple gesture that can steer us clear of self-pity and a downward spiral and an act that is contagious to our children.Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips
Smiling comes naturally to some and less easily to others, but it is a simple gesture that can steer us clear of self-pity and a downward spiral and an act that is contagious to our children. They will catch and mimic what we model, so we should be conscious of our expressions.
Consciously choose the emotions you display, and the outward act of the will can work its way inward to change your actual emotion.
A smile is a simple way to love someone else, to offer approval, acceptance, and affection. It is a gift to your children that gives back to you, also.
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]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:4562395CH064: Thoughts on Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung & Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaneyhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch064/
Tue, 08 May 2018 10:57:32 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=62063<p>Season 11 : Good Books to Read But their actual point is quite biblical, and part of it is that God isn’t calling you to “do it all” in the world’s sense or even in our own personal mile-long to-do-list sense. The book constitutes a redefinition of “doing it all.” Every day presents us with countless options for how to spend our time. However, only some are truly great deals. Only a few things are really important. […] It’s frequently … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch064/" aria-label="CH064: Thoughts on Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung & Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch064/">CH064: Thoughts on Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung & Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 11 : Good Books to Read But their actual point is quite biblical, and part of it is that God isn’t calling you to “do it all” in the world’s sense or even in our own personal mile-long to-do-list sense.Season 11 : Good Books to Read
But their actual point is quite biblical, and part of it is that God isn’t calling you to “do it all” in the world’s sense or even in our own personal mile-long to-do-list sense. The book constitutes a redefinition of “doing it all.”

Every day presents us with countless options for how to spend our time. However, only some are truly great deals. Only a few things are really important. […] It’s frequently these good things that distract us from the best things.

What obligations are we burdening ourselves with (or are others trying to load us down with) that God is not asking us to do?
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Listen:
Simple Sanity Saver: Scholé
Scholé is the Greek word from which the English school is derived. However, it’s a far cry from what passes as school these days. it’s translated as leisure, as the point and end-goal of any work we might do. We work in order to scholé, Aristotle says.
When we work in order to possess stuff, or worse yet, when we work in order to work more and better, our souls shrivel. We are not living as we were created to live. We were created to tend for relationship sake. When the fall ruined our orientation to work, God established 6 days of labor that culminated in a day of rest and gladness, a day of scholé, a day of worship. When Jesus rose from the dead and remade the world, the day of rest became Sunday, The Lord’s Day, the first day. We do not work to rest. We receive rest, leisure, wholeness in our worship, then from that blessing we go forth and tend the world. Rest should characterize our work, it is the energy behind our work, and always we return to it to be renewed. It’s not an earned rest, a vacation rest, it is a mindful, worshipful, received rest that God gives to us as a gift.
Let us walk in that grace rather than try to earn our own rest.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on Apple Podcasts will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:2862063SO064 – Resist Plan Perfectionism. Iterate.https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so064/
Mon, 07 May 2018 04:13:35 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=62061<p>Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips Reserve time every week and every interval for evaluation, but in the midst of the day, just move forward with what you know. The perfect plan is not going to be as helpful as the plan you have in front of you, put into practice. The day-to-day is for execution mode. Don’t wait until the plan is perfect. Just start with what you have, where you are. Read the original post: Iterate Your Plans Find … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so064/" aria-label="SO064 – Resist Plan Perfectionism. Iterate.">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so064/">SO064 – Resist Plan Perfectionism. Iterate.</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips Reserve time every week and every interval for evaluation, but in the midst of the day, just move forward with what you know. The perfect plan is not going to be as helpful as the plan you have in front of you,Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips
Reserve time every week and every interval for evaluation, but in the midst of the day, just move forward with what you know. The perfect plan is not going to be as helpful as the plan you have in front of you, put into practice.
The day-to-day is for execution mode.
Don’t wait until the plan is perfect. Just start with what you have, where you are.
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]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:0562061CH063: Thoughts on Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollinshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch063/
Wed, 02 May 2018 10:13:14 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=61127<p>Season 11 : Good Books to Read If you are starting out homeschooling with a bright-eyed little 5-year-old – a toddler tagging along and another on the way – you eat up the stories of those ahead of you on the journey. When I was in that spot 8 years ago, I had my mom who had homeschooled 7. I also had other local older moms who let me browse their bookshelves and ask them questions. And then on my … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch063/" aria-label="CH063: Thoughts on Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch063/">CH063: Thoughts on Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 11 : Good Books to Read If you are starting out homeschooling with a bright-eyed little 5-year-old – a toddler tagging along and another on the way – you eat up the stories of those ahead of you on the journey.Season 11 : Good Books to Read
If you are starting out homeschooling with a bright-eyed little 5-year-old – a toddler tagging along and another on the way – you eat up the stories of those ahead of you on the journey.
When I was in that spot 8 years ago, I had my mom who had homeschooled 7. I also had other local older moms who let me browse their bookshelves and ask them questions. And then on my computer screen, I had Cindy Rollins, whose ninth child at the time was in elementary school, only a couple years ahead of my oldest. She was about to graduate her oldest, and she was funny and smart and real.
We’ve learned and grown a lot over the years, and Cindy helped us stay on the right trajectory.
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Listen:
Simple Sanity Saver: Scholé
Scholé is the Greek word from which the English school is derived. However, it’s translated as leisure, as not-at-work. This contradicts our customary metaphor of school as a student’s job, as well as our typical reason for pursuing school: economic advantage. The older vision of school was of completing a person, of holistically growing and maturing to make him competent and complete, fully equipped not for the marketplace, but for all of life.
How does that vision of education look different from the modern in the day-to-day? It makes a difference in both what we teach and how. A scholé-oriented education favors the arts – not necessarily the technical angle, but the enjoyment angle – and language. It favors attention to the real world around us and immersing ourselves in a creative pursuit; science itself is taught in a wonder-filled, attentive, self-forgetful manner.
Scholé is not just for our students, but for ourselves as well. When we build scholé into our lives, we are giving space to personal growth and development, not for economic advantage, but for spiritual and personal wholeness and well-being.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on Apple Podcasts will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:3961127SO063: Give Yourself a Mottohttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so063/
Mon, 30 Apr 2018 07:13:22 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=61125<p>Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips When we recite a handful of mottos over and over again, and conform our choices to them, we more and more naturally live them out even when we don’t use them. They become the way we simply do things. The best way to form new habits is to take on the identity as the kind of person who … leaves places better than they were, smiles and starts, or doesn’t let a mistake or slip-up … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so063/" aria-label="SO063: Give Yourself a Motto">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so063/">SO063: Give Yourself a Motto</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips When we recite a handful of mottos over and over again, and conform our choices to them, we more and more naturally live them out even when we don’t use them. They become the way we simply do things.Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips
When we recite a handful of mottos over and over again, and conform our choices to them, we more and more naturally live them out even when we don’t use them. They become the way we simply do things.
The best way to form new habits is to take on the identity as the kind of person who … leaves places better than they were, smiles and starts, or doesn’t let a mistake or slip-up stop continual practice.
These little chants I can tell myself are mini pep talks on the tip of my tongue that can help bring back my attitude when it starts drifting into dismay or laziness.
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]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:2161125CH062: Book Recommendations with Virginia Leehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch062/
Wed, 25 Apr 2018 09:57:26 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=61031<p>Season 11 : Good Books to Read Listen: Mystie: Alright, well, welcome to the first episode of season 11. This season I’m going to be recording some past book review posts from Simply Convivial, so I thought it’d be fun for Virginia Lee and I to do some quick book recommendations for the first episode. Hey, Virginia Lee. Virginia Lee: Hey, Mystie. Good morning. Mystie: So, we both brought two books to recommend and not necessarily very favorites, but just … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch062/" aria-label="CH062: Book Recommendations with Virginia Lee">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch062/">CH062: Book Recommendations with Virginia Lee</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 11 : Good Books to Read Listen: Mystie: Alright, well, welcome to the first episode of season 11. This season I’m going to be recording some past book review posts from Simply Convivial, so I thought it’d be fun for Virginia Lee and I to do some...Season 11 : Good Books to Read

Listen:
Mystie: Alright, well, welcome to the first episode of season 11. This season I’m going to be recording some past book review posts from Simply Convivial, so I thought it’d be fun for Virginia Lee and I to do some quick book recommendations for the first episode. Hey, Virginia Lee.
Virginia Lee: Hey, Mystie. Good morning.
Mystie: So, we both brought two books to recommend and not necessarily very favorites, but just ones that we thought were good to recommend that might be helpful and that have been helpful for us.
Virginia Lee: Well, I think that’s helpful because especially with homeschool moms, you know, we’re all readers. So, if it’s the same recommendations that you can get anywhere else it’s nice to have the recommendations that you haven’t heard of or that you’ve only heard a little bit about. And, then you can buy a new book. So, which ones did you pick, Mystie?
Mystie: So, the first one I picked was, The Art of Teaching by Gilbert Highet.
Virginia Lee: You know, I have heard of that because Cindy Rollins had recommended that also.
Mystie: Yes. I’m pretty sure that’s why I bought it at first, and you know, it’s one of those ones that then sat on my shelf for forever. It was written in 1950. It is about teaching in a time where the scientific materialistic vision was really gaining traction, and really the whole thing is about the human aspect; learning is the child/student bringing himself to bear and teaching is the teacher bringing himself. And, one of the sections I have marked, “That’s why it’s exhausting. It is legitimately exhausting to teach, and this is why, so just expect it.”
Virginia Lee: And that’s good because I think sometimes we can go around in our minds thinking, ‘OK, how can I make this not [this] way? It shouldn’t be like [this], I’m doing something wrong.’
Mystie: Right.
Virginia Lee: And, it’s good to just know, “No, that makes sense.”
Mystie: You’re not doing something wrong because you’re tired at the end. You’re doing something right.
Virginia Lee: So then it’s like, ‘I’m still tired but man it’s a weight off my shoulders.’ Oh, wonderful. I’m going to have to write this down. That’s very interesting, and I like that it really talks to us as the teacher, because a lot of education books that we read are really focusing on stuff with the children also.
Mystie: Right.
Virginia Lee: And, you’re not necessarily getting what the posture of the teacher is, quite as much.
Mystie: So, this quote is on the back of my book, and I thought it was so good. So, he says, “Teaching is not like inducing a chemical reaction: it is much more like painting a picture or making a piece of music, or on a lower level like planting a garden or writing a friendly letter. You must throw your heart into it, you must realize that it cannot be done all by formulas or you will spoil your work, and your pupils, and yourself.
Virginia Lee: That’s beautiful.
Mystie: So, how about you? What’s one of your books?
Virginia Lee: One of mine is Consider This by Karen Glass. And, it was just a turning point in my mind of really putting together the synthetic learning and the analytical learning,]]>Mystie Wincklerclean13:1461031SO062: Tips for Attitude Change (with Virginia Lee)https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so062/
Mon, 23 Apr 2018 10:48:31 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=61027<p>Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips Listen: Mystie: Welcome to the first episode of season 11 where I’ll be recording and sharing a few more attitude organization tips from my series “52 Ways to Organize Your Attitude.” So, Virginia Lee who helps me with customer support and email is here to chat with us. Hey, Virginia Lee. Virginia Lee: Hi everyone. Mystie: So, I thought that we would share some of our own tips for organizing our attitude because it often … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so062/" aria-label="SO062: Tips for Attitude Change (with Virginia Lee)">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so062/">SO062: Tips for Attitude Change (with Virginia Lee)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips Listen: Mystie: Welcome to the first episode of season 11 where I’ll be recording and sharing a few more attitude organization tips from my series “52 Ways to Organize Your Attitude.” So,Season 11: Attitude Organization Tips

Listen:
Mystie: Welcome to the first episode of season 11 where I’ll be recording and sharing a few more attitude organization tips from my series “52 Ways to Organize Your Attitude.” So, Virginia Lee who helps me with customer support and email is here to chat with us. Hey, Virginia Lee.
Virginia Lee: Hi everyone.
Mystie: So, I thought that we would share some of our own tips for organizing our attitude because it often needs it with stuff day to day.
Virginia Lee: Yes, yes.
Mystie: So, one of the ones I’m going to share is there’s a post for it in the series, but sometimes just sharing those specific instances – these are all things we need to hear over and over again. So, do you have any go-to attitude organization strategies?
Virginia Lee: Well, many of mine are similar to what you’re writing about. But, I guess the biggest go-to attitude organization strategy for me is … and it’s not going to be anything new … is just to stop and pray. If things are out of whack, if the bubble has burst, I have to stop everything and pray right then. It doesn’t matter if we get behind, it doesn’t matter if something doesn’t get done, because I am an extrovert and I have multiple extroverted children I have found that it is incredibly helpful to just stop all of them in their tracks, too, and pray together. To just let them know, you know what, my attitude is not the way it needs to be and I need help from the Lord and I would love the help from them as well, so we can just pray for each other. And, it’s great to hear your children praying for you, too. So, that is really my number one biggest thing and there are some days where we stop 10 times. And, there are others where we’re just all not listening to ourselves more than we’re listening to the spirit and we fly through and those are the days that at the end, you’re like, “Yay, Lord – that’ll get me through four more weeks.” But, that is really my biggest one is to just to stop. I’ve learned that if the spirit prompts you that you should be praying about something don’t say I’ll do this later, I’ll do this when [this] calms down. Just do it right then.
Mystie: That is so good.
Virginia Lee: So, that’s my biggest one.
Mystie: That’s a great one. You can’t argue that, because who can change a sinner’s heart but the Holy Spirit alone. That’s where we have to go when we need heart change.
Virginia Lee: And, because we’re the ones during the day leading our families and we’re all around each other I just want my kids to see that I need that heart change as much as they do. I need that attitude re-organization as much as they do, and so, I have always tried to communicate with them as well, not just keep it inside that I’m doing that, but just let them know, “This is happening with Mom right now, too.” What about you?
Mystie: Mine’s really similar, maybe it’s the introverted version. In the Humble Habits Program that I worked through with a bunch of other ladies, one of the habits that we worked on, the very first one was prayer, and having a Scripture verse that you were going to pray, posted somewhere. So, to just have a go-to prayer to pray, it was good because we were stopping to pray at that time, when we saw that card. It was a prompt to pray, but then also in practicing praying it, it became more normal and natural to just have that go-to. Like, I can stop right here and I have a prayer in my heart, in my head, right now. So, do you have another one?
Virginia Lee: So, I have a Notes app in my phone and maybe this isn’t the best place but I should probably switch to your Index Card so that I don’t have to get on my phone, but I keep four or five Bible verses in that Note app, depending on if there’s a struggle, or a season, or something that I know is a continuous thing that I’m working on that will ...]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:0561027CH061: Classical Education Demands Habit Traininghttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch061/
Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:45:51 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=58079<p>Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach Certainly we are to watch and train the habits of our children and our household, but that is not all the work to be done. The confirmation of the habit into a character is work done by the person himself when he is independent. The test of character comes when each person is an adult – will he confirm the habits he was brought up to? Will he practice what he has … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch061/" aria-label="CH061: Classical Education Demands Habit Training">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch061/">CH061: Classical Education Demands Habit Training</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach Certainly we are to watch and train the habits of our children and our household, but that is not all the work to be done. The confirmation of the habit into a character is work done by the person himself w...Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach
Certainly we are to watch and train the habits of our children and our household, but that is not all the work to be done. The confirmation of the habit into a character is work done by the person himself when he is independent.
The test of character comes when each person is an adult – will he confirm the habits he was brought up to? Will he practice what he has been taught?
Some studies, he writes, “can be of no benefit to us after we have mastered them unless we have elected to make our living from this source”; however, they still “help us while we are in the process of learning.”
Such impractical, abstract studies he calls “gymnastic of the mind” which will “increase their aptitude for mastering greater and more serious studies.”
Habit training begins in childhood, but is confirmed in adulthood.
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Simple Sanity Saver: Teaching Shakespeare
Of course the best way to engage with Shakespeare is to be the one performing it. There are several ways to do this without being a drama person (I am most definitely not).
Knowledge comes from doing
Personally, I am the sort very tempted to leave off the hands-on activities like this. I like the meat and acting out a scene or two seems like fluffy fun that can easily be dispensed with.
However, in this case, that is not true.
True knowing and understanding comes when we make the material our own, when we recreate or represent it in some sort of personal expression. In history or grammar that might involve writing or speaking, but the most natural way to add personal expression with Shakespeare is to be the actor the play is directing.
Be creative in the theatrical options
Although it would be valuable, you don’t have to have costuming and rehearsals in order to give your children the chance to act out Shakespeare. Here are some other low-key, low-commitment ways to add doing to your studies:

* Duplo or LEGO scenes & characters (try recording it for your own movie production)
* Illustrated comic book versions of selected scenes
* Monologues dramatically delivered like at a try-out
* Puppets – handcrafted, popsicle stick, finger puppets, paper dolls – can be recorded to make a movie.

If you are interested in staging a scene, an abridged play, or simply delivering monologues with your kids or with a group, check out how these homeschool moms have done so in their homeschools:

clean11:0458079SO061: The Role of Vocations in Planninghttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so061/
Mon, 02 Apr 2018 13:40:57 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=58074<p>Season 10: Planner Pep Talks The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner. Get access to the whole workshop, the chat replay, and more here: And then, the bottom section is for your vocations. And again, I’m not going to get into vocations but basically, those are your … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so061/" aria-label="SO061: The Role of Vocations in Planning">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so061/">SO061: The Role of Vocations in Planning</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 10: Planner Pep Talks The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner.Season 10: Planner Pep Talks
The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner.
Get access to the whole workshop, the chat replay, and more here:

And then, the bottom section is for your vocations. And again, I’m not going to get into vocations but basically, those are your areas of responsibility. And the vocations, as we work through them, in Simplified Organization, the e-Course, and in Work the Plan, the vocations are names that help us to think about what our responsibilities are. What are we here to do? Who are we here to be? And, it’s not up to us to establish our own vocations or identities. Vocation means calling, so if we’re married then one of our vocations is a wife. If we have children then one of our vocations is a mother. And, we don’t pick that, necessarily. We can’t pick to not be.
So, it’s noticing what our vocations that we’re given are, and then organizing our life around that instead of trying to envision who we want to be or supposed to be in 10 or 5 years, our life goals, or whatever, it’s more looking around and observing where has God placed me, what am I called to do here and now (not necessarily super far into the future, but what about just right here and now), and identifying what am I doing in those areas, and what should I be doing in those areas. And, that helps us keep our eyes focused on the present, and who we’re called to serve right now, and what responsibilities we’ve been given right now, and that helps us filter the opportunities that come our way or the ideas that flit through our heads, so it helps us figure out what we should be spending our time on and what we should not be spending our time on.
Do current chosen vocations fall in that definition? It depends—there is a free guide, if you go to SimplyConvivial.com you can search for vocations, and I think the post is called “Know Your Vocations” and there’s a free guide that you can download on helping you figure out what your vocations are. If you’ve chosen to homeschool then that’s a responsibility—you can’t keep your kids home from school and then not school them. So, whatever you are responsible to do today, this week, this year, that somehow fits into your vocations.
So, it’s a little mental exercise, figuring out what the right names are the categories, then all of that, but I think it’s a very profitable exercise and thing to think through, because it helps us be intentional with our time and intentional with our decisions, and really know what we’re about, and that helps us to say no when we need to say no, and it helps to say yes when we need to say yes, also.

So, the bottom section is where I have things broken down by vocation, so that I can make sure I am keeping a balance on things – that I’m not over doing it on one end but I’m paying attention to all the different people, basically is what it comes down to, that each person in my life is each getting the part of me that they should be getting.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:0458074CH060: Education Requires Languagehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch060/
Wed, 28 Mar 2018 14:31:34 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=57642<p>Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach It is by means of language that we both procure and use wisdom – for does not thought require language? So practice in speaking and in using language (today we would add writing as a method of discourse) is of upmost importance not just to learn to communicate effectively with others, but even to be able to understand within our own minds. It is speaking, being able to communicate your knowledge to … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch060/" aria-label="CH060: Education Requires Language">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch060/">CH060: Education Requires Language</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach It is by means of language that we both procure and use wisdom – for does not thought require language? So practice in speaking and in using language (today we would add writing as a method of discourse) is...Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach
It is by means of language that we both procure and use wisdom – for does not thought require language?
So practice in speaking and in using language (today we would add writing as a method of discourse) is of upmost importance not just to learn to communicate effectively with others, but even to be able to understand within our own minds.
It is speaking, being able to communicate your knowledge to others, that makes the knowledge useful, that makes it possible to do any good with the gain of it.
Language is the basis of wisdom.
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Simple Sanity Saver: Teaching Shakespeare
Though Shakespeare wrote to be performed, there is still great value in reading his plays with their beautiful use of English. However, there’s more than one way to read a text.
Audio + Visual = read along
My favorite way to read Shakespeare with the kids is to give each one his own paperback (multiple copies can be found at the library or any used bookstore usually, or Dover publishes cheap editions without frills) and play an audiobook version while we all follow along. Hearing someone who knows how the lines flow read them helps immensely with comprehension.
If I have an unmotivated or non-reader, I’ll give them a coloring page to keep their hands and eyes busy while they listen to the audiobook. Dover publishes a book of Shakespeare coloring pages, or even a book of plain designs to color in is a good activity for listening times.Having Shakespeare come in through both the eyes and the ears is a great way to foster success and engagement with young students.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean9:4957642SO060: Build the Habit of Looking at Your Planhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so060/
Mon, 26 Mar 2018 04:20:13 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=57638<p>Season 10: Planner Pep Talks The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner. Get access to the whole workshop, the chat replay, and more here: So, one of the biggest reasons why planners don’t work and are a waste of time when the problem is us, is simply … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so060/" aria-label="SO060: Build the Habit of Looking at Your Plan">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so060/">SO060: Build the Habit of Looking at Your Plan</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 10: Planner Pep Talks The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner.Season 10: Planner Pep Talks
The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner.
Get access to the whole workshop, the chat replay, and more here:

So, one of the biggest reasons why planners don’t work and are a waste of time when the problem is us, is simply not looking at the planner. So, we need to make looking at the planner a habit, and something that we do at least once a day, but really more than once a day—at least three times a day, or else the planner is just not going to work for you.
It’s not going to be the useful, helpful tool if you aren’t looking at it. So, you’ve got to look at it in the morning, during your morning review, then you’ve got to look at it at least one other time in the middle of the day, in the midst of the crazy goings on, and then an evening review. So, those are the habits that make a planner work that we go over within Work the Plan and I also have several blog posts at SimplyConvivial.com about the morning review and an evening review, a weekly review, review, review, review – that basically means you have to look at it to for it to work for you. And a lot of times, almost anything would work if we used it. And the using it gives us that experience that helps us see which parts of it do and don’t fit our lives.
So, we won’t know what kind of planner works for us unless we actually get some experience using one. So, it’s totally OK to just start with something, even if your something is a blank sheet of paper that you just has notes all over. Or, it’s a page that has a sticky note per day and you jot notes. It does not have to be fancy. It does not have to be organized in an Instagram-photo shoot kind of way. It doesn’t have to be just so, or just the perfect planner, the kind you want to use for forever. It has to be something so you get experience and figure out what’s going to work for you right now.
So, it’s not so much about the planner page itself, the format, the template, what’s on it, what’s not on it – what really matters is that we have a place where we put things down that we can refer to so that we can keep things on paper and not in our own heads. If it’s not as pretty as the ones you see on Instagram it doesn’t mean that you’re doing it wrong.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:2557638CH059: Where Education Begins & Endshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch059/
Wed, 21 Mar 2018 09:02:00 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=57193<p>Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach Education in the broad, unspecialized sense is summed up as how to obey and how to rule. One who rules without obeying is a tyrant, one who obeys without ruling is a slave. And both truly all begins when young children learn to obey, because that requires the beginnings of learning self-control. Sometimes it’s easy to sigh on a Tuesday morning and think, “What am I doing? What is the point anyway?” … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch059/" aria-label="CH059: Where Education Begins & Ends">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch059/">CH059: Where Education Begins & Ends</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach Education in the broad, unspecialized sense is summed up as how to obey and how to rule. One who rules without obeying is a tyrant, one who obeys without ruling is a slave.Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach
Education in the broad, unspecialized sense is summed up as how to obey and how to rule.
One who rules without obeying is a tyrant, one who obeys without ruling is a slave.
And both truly all begins when young children learn to obey, because that requires the beginnings of learning self-control.
Sometimes it’s easy to sigh on a Tuesday morning and think, “What am I doing? What is the point anyway?”
Isocrates reminds us of the point – or, at least, one point.
Education creates society, for good or ill.
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Simple Sanity Saver: Teaching Shakespeare
Shakespeare was meant to be seen. How many movie scripts make it into lit class? Not many at all; that Shakespeare does demonstrates his genius.Which would you prefer? Reading a movie script or watching the movie made from it? Of course we’d rather watch the movie because the movie is the point of the script. In the same way, Shakespeare was meant to be acted and interpreted. I absolutely love to watch multiple versions of a play and see how differences of inflection, of setting, and of context put completely different spins on the lines. This is the beauty of Shakespeare. None of them are “Right” (although some can be Wrong). Scripts allow actors room to interpret their characters and get into character, reflecting different facets of humanity as they do so. Is Hamlet’s ghost to be trusted? How that ghost is portrayed will affect how you feel about that central plot point. Shakespeare’s plays and themes are complex, as life and people are.
Always preview movies.
Of course you, as the parent, should always watch a Shakespeare production yourself before viewing it with your children. You know your children and your standards, so you need to preview movie options in light of those. Violence, bawdiness, even nudity are all issues in many Shakespeare videos, and there are also many that make Shakespeare feel dull and confusing. You’re going for an experience that will leave your children with a positive enjoyment of Shakespeare, so watch the movie options beforehand and try to find ones that will be a good fit for your family. There are a number of movie versions that I enjoy that I wouldn’t let my kids watch, but there are some we’ve watched as a family.
Your mileage, of course, may vary. I’m not promising you or yours will like them. If you can’t find a movie you can endorse in its entirety, sometimes you can watch brief clips on YouTube. Something is better than nothing: the kids need to see that Shakespeare was written to be done and not just endured.
Check for live productions.
Movies are not actually the only way to watch Shakespeare performed. Before film, there was still theater. As an added bonus, many school or local groups will refrain from excessive violence or lewdness in their plays, at least in our town. High schools, local theaters, and area acting companies are all likely places to find the occasional Shakespeare play. I have sometimes chosen the play we read in school based on what will be performed locally. Ask around and see if there are groups you don’t know about yet.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling mom...]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:5857193SO059: Planning Seasonallyhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so059/
Mon, 19 Mar 2018 09:02:02 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=57188<p>Season 10: Planner Pep Talks The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner. Get access to the whole workshop, the chat replay, and more here: So, we go through these different seasons where we’re using time differently, we need to think about time differently, and put together the … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so059/" aria-label="SO059: Planning Seasonally">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so059/">SO059: Planning Seasonally</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 10: Planner Pep Talks The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner.Season 10: Planner Pep Talks
The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner.
Get access to the whole workshop, the chat replay, and more here:

So, we go through these different seasons where we’re using time differently, we need to think about time differently, and put together the plan in a way that matches how our life is flowing. So, if you have a baby, or if you have primarily toddlers, then the way that your time flows, the way your day flows, is unique and it’s a thing. So, don’t try to fit your life into a planner, fit the planner to your life.
So, maybe your time chunks are morning and afternoon, and that’s it. Still, you get three things per time block, and if you hit those things you’re good. And the things can’t be “clean the whole house” – that’s not one thing! We have to evaluate our expectations and what’s realistic. “Clean a drawer” is one thing. So, the important thing is looking at how your day flows and putting together a planner that reflects that is tricky, but thinking about it in that way, I think, helps us see other possibilities rather than just trying to print off (even mine, including mine) someone else’s planner template and then just trying to paste that into our life. But, to look at all the different templates that are out there and then say, “I like this about that one, I like this about this one” and try a few and maybe, for your interval, where you have six weeks of focus on certain projects – maybe a project for an interval is to figure out a planner that works for me.
And, so each week you can try out a new thing. But, you’ve got to give it at least a week before you know whether or not it’s working for you. And, you also, as you evaluate have to honestly evaluate is the planner not working for me because it doesn’t match the way my life flows or the categories that my brain thinks in, is it not working for that reason, or is it not working because I wasn’t looking at it, because I wasn’t working the plan myself. Was the problem the planner or was the problem me? And, going through and just honestly doing that evaluation, it’s not the sort of condemnation, sort of thing, like if the problem is you (because sometimes it is, sometimes it’s me – a lot of the times it’s me) and when you realize that, it’s not a guilt-fest, it’s a well-what’s-getting-in-the-way? Is it my attitude? Is it my habits? And, how can I change my attitude? And, how can I change my habits, because those are things that we do have control over and we can change. And, just being aware and trying things out and being intentional is the first step, because that’s when we notice what’s going on in our heads, it’s when we notice what our habits are, and that’s really the first step – is paying attention and noticing.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:5157188CH058: A Teacher’s Goalshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch058/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 04:01:01 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=56898<p>Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach Mothers must be both teachers and learners. As mothers home with our children all day every day, we are their primary influence, especially in the younger years. We can’t just wing it and expect great results or satisfaction. If we can be always learning, always growing, always stretching, we will be happier and we will be modeling for our children the life we’re asking them to embrace. Education is about how we … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch058/" aria-label="CH058: A Teacher’s Goals">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch058/">CH058: A Teacher’s Goals</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach Mothers must be both teachers and learners. As mothers home with our children all day every day, we are their primary influence, especially in the younger years.Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach
Mothers must be both teachers and learners.
As mothers home with our children all day every day, we are their primary influence, especially in the younger years. We can’t just wing it and expect great results or satisfaction.
If we can be always learning, always growing, always stretching, we will be happier and we will be modeling for our children the life we’re asking them to embrace.
Education is about how we treat others and comes by imitation.
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Having thought about Shakespeare for most of my life, I have concluded that the best way to learn about his plays, his language, his themes and his stories with any real depth and integrity is to memorize a few passages from his plays so that you have them at your fingertips.

Memorization doesn’t have to be an ordeal. During the weeks you watch and read the play, simply repeat the lines you’ve chosen for memory.
I print the selections in large font, with the phrases broken up and each on their own line – plenty of white space makes it easier to follow and easier to see in the mind’s-eye for recall. Then before we read or watch or talk about the play, we repeat each selection 2-3 times, all together.
Easy. Simple. It really works.
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]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:3856898SO058: Your Planner is a Focus Toolhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so058/
Mon, 12 Mar 2018 09:33:42 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=56889<p>Season 10: Planner Pep Talks The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner. Get access to the whole workshop, the chat replay, and more here: It’s a way to realistically evaluate what’s going on in your life and what you need to be doing and what you are … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so058/" aria-label="SO058: Your Planner is a Focus Tool">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so058/">SO058: Your Planner is a Focus Tool</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 10: Planner Pep Talks The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner.Season 10: Planner Pep Talks
The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner.
Get access to the whole workshop, the chat replay, and more here:

It’s a way to realistically evaluate what’s going on in your life and what you need to be doing and what you are doing and what you should be doing, because the potential of what we could do is great. And, maybe if you have your mind wrapped around what you are doing, you find that there is room for me, there is room for that creative project, there’s room for this or that, or sometimes you evaluate where you are and you think, ‘Oh, that’s why I feel crazy because I feel like I’ve got all these things going on and now I need to look through and maybe cut some things,’ so the planner is really a tool of evaluation and a tool of focus, but we are still the ones doing the work.
The planner’s not going to do any of the work for us, and the planner’s not going to make it easier to do the work either, it’s just going to make what the work is clearer, but writing things down is huge, and I think that’s the real power for having a planner sheet is just that it is written down and out of your head, because when we try to keep all the details in our head that’s where we’re bound to go crazy and feel like we can’t key above, we can’t juggle it all, and a lot of times the problem is just that all the details are in our heads and so we can’t use our heads for thinking or creative problem solutions or even doing the work because our heads are so full of just trying to keep track of the details, so we need to use the paper for what it’s good for, which is keeping track of the details and then our heads for what they are good for, which is thinking things through, coming up with solutions and maybe moving us forward.
Keeping things on paper or outside of your head at least so you don’t have to keep track of everything.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:3456889CH057: A Teacher’s Attentionhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch057/
Wed, 07 Mar 2018 04:19:28 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=56603<p>Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach If we start off on this homeschool journey with no idea what education is, why we’re doing it, or where we want to be at the end, we’ll flounder, frustrated and fickle. We’ll have no idea whether what we’re doing is working or if we’re doing a good job. We have to have a measuring stick to determine if we’re straightened out and moving forward. A measuring stick has a beginning and … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch057/" aria-label="CH057: A Teacher’s Attention">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch057/">CH057: A Teacher’s Attention</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach If we start off on this homeschool journey with no idea what education is, why we’re doing it, or where we want to be at the end, we’ll flounder, frustrated and fickle.Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach
If we start off on this homeschool journey with no idea what education is, why we’re doing it, or where we want to be at the end, we’ll flounder, frustrated and fickle. We’ll have no idea whether what we’re doing is working or if we’re doing a good job.
We have to have a measuring stick to determine if we’re straightened out and moving forward. A measuring stick has a beginning and an end.
To teach, we have to pay attention to where we are leading and to who we are leading.
Read the original posts:

Simple Sanity Saver: Teaching Shakespeare
The first step is to do basically a Cliff’s-Notes version of the play. When the plot and the story line are known beforehand, then our attention is free to enjoy the details without having to keep track of who is who.
But we also don’t want the introduction to introduce the idea that Shakespeare is dull. A plain enumeration of the characters and salient plot points makes for a boring introduction and a bad starting point.
So introduce the play with an engaging retelling.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on Apple Podcasts will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean11:1656603SO057: Are You Trapped in Productive Procrastination?https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so057/
Mon, 05 Mar 2018 13:33:57 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=56520<p>Season 10: Planner Pep Talks The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner. Get access to the whole workshop, the chat replay, and more here: Partial Transcript: So, our planning system and our planner in particular is something that we do have to come back and revisit and … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so057/" aria-label="SO057: Are You Trapped in Productive Procrastination?">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so057/">SO057: Are You Trapped in Productive Procrastination?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 10: Planner Pep Talks The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner.Season 10: Planner Pep Talks
The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner.
Get access to the whole workshop, the chat replay, and more here:

Partial Transcript:
So, our planning system and our planner in particular is something that we do have to come back and revisit and reiterate, put together again. That’s not a waste of time. If we’re coming back at it regularly but not re-making the entire plan everyday (I’ve done that, it is a waste of time), it’s productive procrastination. Procrastination that feels productive: “my life is entirely falling apart, I don’t even know what to do next, I’m just going to make a new planner page (because that’ll help) and honestly, it often does feel like if I just get this planner thing right, everything will fall into place.” That’s not actually the way it works.
We’ve got a road — the productivity road, the road of doing what we’re supposed to be doing when we’re supposed to be doing it. There’s a ditch on one side of the road that says “I don’t feel like I’m going as fast as I want to or I don’t know if I’m on the right road and so I’m going to re-do my planner even though I made one yesterday.” That sort of re-upping, re-evaluating too soon where you haven’t actually had time to work the plan; there’s not time to have experience in the planner and figure out what’s working, what’s not working, and why. And so, the solution we come up with as our creativity outlet is coming up with a new planner page. There are better creative outlets and more refreshing ones than that.
So, we don’t want to re-create our planner pages at the drop of a hat just because one thing didn’t go well today or because we actually don’t want to do the plan, making a new planner page is not going to make us want to do the plan. But, sometimes that’s the reason why we choose a planner, or we try to re-do it, or we buy a new planner. We look to the planner to change, basically to change our hearts, and it’s not going to do it. And, then the ditch on the other side of the road is to just throw off all planning altogether and say, “Well, I have wasted time, the planner didn’t work for me today, or this whole week, or this whole month, and so I must not be a planner. This doesn’t work for me so I’m not going to do any.” That is a ditch on the side of the road; being organized, being productive doesn’t mean that you have to be a driven type, a super fast, high energy kind of person.
Planning, keeping a planner, trying to be organized is just about trying to be prepared for the service and responsibilities that God has given you and it’s about thinking through what those responsibilities are because so much of the time our minds are filled with ‘ought to’s’ that aren’t necessarily ‘ought to’s’ – maybe they’re can’s, I might be able to do this, or maybe I should do this, but I think that we, too often, feel obligated to do things that we shouldn’t necessarily feel obligated to do. So, the process of planning is distilling what are my responsibilities and where should my focus be, so that when those different ideas, details, possibilities, come at you, you can legitimately and without too much decision-fatigue, or a gut-wrenching pro’s and con’s list just say, “Not room for that” or “That’s not part of my priorities right now,” and it helps make that decision on yes, I can do that, no I can’t do that.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:0756520CH056: The Reason for Educationhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch056/
Wed, 28 Feb 2018 10:24:19 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=56226<p>Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach The one thread that strings through all the classical educators from Perrin to Plato is that education’s aim is virtue – not a diploma, not a job, not a stack of accomplishments. Our children – and even ourselves – should be better people, inherently, because of the education we received, no matter what circumstances or results come afterward. Education is for the soul. Read the original post: The reason for education Listen: … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch056/" aria-label="CH056: The Reason for Education">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch056/">CH056: The Reason for Education</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach The one thread that strings through all the classical educators from Perrin to Plato is that education’s aim is virtue – not a diploma, not a job, not a stack of accomplishments.Season 10: Classical Thoughts on Why We Teach
The one thread that strings through all the classical educators from Perrin to Plato is that education’s aim is virtue – not a diploma, not a job, not a stack of accomplishments. Our children – and even ourselves – should be better people, inherently, because of the education we received, no matter what circumstances or results come afterward.
Education is for the soul.

Simple Sanity Saver: Teaching Shakespeare
Shakespeare can be an intimidating subject to introduce. Isn’t the language archaic and the doesn’t high quality mean high difficulty? Actually, the language isn’t that difficult when it’s read (that is, interpreted) by an experienced reader. The profound themes within plots were created not as pure art, but also to entertain the masses. Shakespeare was the hot movie in his day, and he can still be enjoyed that way today.
You don’t have to wait for high school to do Shakespeare with your kids, and you don’t need to be homeschooling to study Shakespeare together. If you do any reading aloud or movie watching together, you can do Shakespeare together.
Shakespeare was written in order to be seen, scripted in order to be performed. Shakespeare wrote popular entertainment, not philosophical treatise. We can draw out deep themes and discuss grand philosophy using monologues and plots we find in Shakespeare, but we should never study Shakespeare to the exclusion of simply enjoying the fun of Shakespeare – Shakespeare was meant to be fun.
I believe that Shakespeare, the greatest artist whose medium was the English language, can and should be introduced to children. The deep discussions about betrayal, cowardice, truth, love, and piety can wait for high school, but the enjoyment of the plots, the characters, and the language doesn’t have to wait. Introducing children to the world of the plays will help them feel more at home and navigate those deeper waters later in a more knowledgeable and understanding way, because they’ll already know the lay of the land.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean11:1056226SO056: When Planning Feels Like a Waste of Timehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so056/
Mon, 26 Feb 2018 10:15:54 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=56170<p>Season 10: Planner Pep Talks The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner. Get access to the whole workshop, the chat replay, and more here: There are all kinds of ways to do planning, to have a planner, to use a planner. Different things will work for different … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so056/" aria-label="SO056: When Planning Feels Like a Waste of Time">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so056/">SO056: When Planning Feels Like a Waste of Time</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 10: Planner Pep Talks The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner.Season 10: Planner Pep Talks
The episodes in season 10 are excerpted from a live workshop I gave in February 2018 about how to make sure your planner and planning is not a waste of time. Hint: it’s more about us than about the planner.
Get access to the whole workshop, the chat replay, and more here:

There are all kinds of ways to do planning, to have a planner, to use a planner. Different things will work for different people and different things will work for the same person at different times. So, we’re going to share some ideas and try to help each other to figure out what is working and what isn’t working with our planning system.
The key to having a planner that works is being able to customize it to what we need. How many times have you tried to use someone else’s planner and had the boxes or the question not work for you? You thought that this format that worked for other people, that someone really smart put together, should work and if it didn’t, the problem was probably you.
Other people’s planners for sale have questions, boxes to fill in, menu plan sections – you start filling it in and you feel like you spend way too much time planning, or it’s just not the right fit, it just doesn’t click. It feels like a waste of time, and who wants to waste time?
Not all planning time is a good use of time. We can waste our time planning. But, if we start going into that pattern of thinking where we say that all planning, or any time spent planning is a waste of time, or any planner is a waste of time, then we can guarantee they won’t work for us. We won’t use our planner in a good way because we’re coming at it with a bad attitude.
So, we’re going to look at planning and the different ways to go about it, to make sure our planning is not a waste of time.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:0956170CH055: Handling Plans with Flexibility (with Celeste Cruz)https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch055/
Thu, 15 Feb 2018 01:10:56 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=55071<p>Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips This episode is an excerpt from a video workshop Mystie recorded with Celeste Cruz in 2016. You can register for the entire replay, with bonus support material, by clicking the button below. Listen: Mystie, homeschooling mother of 5, loves to take big ideas and grand visions and make them practicable in real life. So she blogs about organizing attitudes & systems at Simplified Organization and about classical homeschooling at Simply Convivial. Celeste is a … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch055/" aria-label="CH055: Handling Plans with Flexibility (with Celeste Cruz)">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch055/">CH055: Handling Plans with Flexibility (with Celeste Cruz)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips This episode is an excerpt from a video workshop Mystie recorded with Celeste Cruz in 2016. You can register for the entire replay, with bonus support material, by clicking the button below. Listen: Mystie,Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips
This episode is an excerpt from a video workshop Mystie recorded with Celeste Cruz in 2016. You can register for the entire replay, with bonus support material, by clicking the button below.

Listen:

Mystie, homeschooling mother of 5, loves to take big ideas and grand visions and make them practicable in real life. So she blogs about organizing attitudes & systems at Simplified Organization and about classical homeschooling at Simply Convivial.

Celeste is a Charlotte Mason homeschooling mother with 8 children 10-and-under (at the time of this recording – now 9). When she has free hands, she enjoys distance running, nature journaling, beach days, reading, and writing about home education at Joyous Lessons.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean12:5455071SO055: Clear Vocationshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so055/
Mon, 12 Feb 2018 17:28:02 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=54231<p>Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude If there’s one thing that derails our attitudes, it’s feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about what we should actually be doing. There are so many options, so many opportunities. We simply must say no at times, but how can we know when we should say no and when we need to be stretched by saying yes? The answer lies in our vocations. Our vocations are made up of the big responsibilities we’re given. … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so055/" aria-label="SO055: Clear Vocations">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so055/">SO055: Clear Vocations</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude If there’s one thing that derails our attitudes, it’s feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about what we should actually be doing. There are so many options, so many opportunities.Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude
If there’s one thing that derails our attitudes, it’s feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about what we should actually be doing.
There are so many options, so many opportunities. We simply must say no at times, but how can we know when we should say no and when we need to be stretched by saying yes?
The answer lies in our vocations.
Our vocations are made up of the big responsibilities we’re given.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:5554231CH054: Homeschooling with lots of littles (with Celeste Cruz)https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch054/
Fri, 09 Feb 2018 20:02:53 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=55064<p>Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips This episode is an excerpt from a video workshop Mystie recorded with Celeste Cruz in 2016. You can register for the entire replay, with bonus support material, by clicking the button below. Listen: Mystie, homeschooling mother of 5, loves to take big ideas and grand visions and make them practicable in real life. So she blogs about organizing attitudes & systems at Simplified Organization and about classical homeschooling at Simply Convivial. Celeste is a … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch054/" aria-label="CH054: Homeschooling with lots of littles (with Celeste Cruz)">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch054/">CH054: Homeschooling with lots of littles (with Celeste Cruz)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips This episode is an excerpt from a video workshop Mystie recorded with Celeste Cruz in 2016. You can register for the entire replay, with bonus support material, by clicking the button below. Listen: Mystie,Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips
This episode is an excerpt from a video workshop Mystie recorded with Celeste Cruz in 2016. You can register for the entire replay, with bonus support material, by clicking the button below.

Listen:
Mystie, homeschooling mother of 5, loves to take big ideas and grand visions and make them practicable in real life. So she blogs about organizing attitudes & systems at Simplified Organization and about classical homeschooling at Simply Convivial.

Celeste is a Charlotte Mason homeschooling mother with 8 children 10-and-under (at the time of this recording – now 9). When she has free hands, she enjoys distance running, nature journaling, beach days, reading, and writing about home education at Joyous Lessons.

Mystie – There’s a spread of abilities and also needs. How do the expectations that we have as moms going into that situation affect how we do it, what we do, and our sanity as we do it. So, how would you say that your expectations have maybe changed or when you go into a school year.

Celeste – Since I’ve always had little kids while I’m schooling, usually a toddler and a baby, pretty much every year since I started homeschooling,.. I have a certain curriculum, a certain amount of work that I’d like to get done with my big kids but I have to be flexible in terms of where and how we fit in those things, and I have to be willing to think outside of the box in terms of our school day…

Mystie – When there’s so many interruptions and you have to get up and take care of the baby, there are just a lot of things all going on at once, and you’re trying to decide do I do [this] or [this]. How do you keep track of what you should be doing or what you need to get back to when the interruption calms down?

Celeste – I think of my day really in terms of blocks. At the beginning of each year I set out a schedule for myself where I have time slots and that is not actually something that we’re going to live by, that’s me making sure I’m not over-scheduling myself, that technically these things could potentially fit in this order on a given day that might or might not actually occur…

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:5755064SO054: Prayerful Pausehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so054/
Mon, 05 Feb 2018 04:56:11 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=54224<p>Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude Anxiety and worry are attitudes we need to rid ourselves of. Peace and joy (among others) are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, the attitudes of Christ we are to put on. God’s peace, by the Holy Spirit, guards our hearts, changes our attitudes, when we pray with thanksgiving. Having peace and joy is not something we must do on our own before we present our requests, but something we ask for … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so054/" aria-label="SO054: Prayerful Pause">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so054/">SO054: Prayerful Pause</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude Anxiety and worry are attitudes we need to rid ourselves of. Peace and joy (among others) are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, the attitudes of Christ we are to put on. God’s peace, by the Holy Spirit,Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude
Anxiety and worry are attitudes we need to rid ourselves of. Peace and joy (among others) are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, the attitudes of Christ we are to put on. God’s peace, by the Holy Spirit, guards our hearts, changes our attitudes, when we pray with thanksgiving.
Having peace and joy is not something we must do on our own before we present our requests, but something we ask for with thanksgiving and in the moment – all the moments, the many moments – we need it.
But prayer is also something we can weave into everything we do, as 1 Thessalonians tells us, “pray without ceasing.”

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:1854224CH053: Communicating Plans with Kids (with Amy Roberts)https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch053/
Fri, 02 Feb 2018 05:53:43 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=54778<p>Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips This episode is an excerpt of an hour-long live video chat between Amy Roberts and Mystie Winckler in 2016. Listen: Mystie and Amy chat about reactive v. responsive planning, communicating plans with children, teaching kids time management, and what to do when life feels like a series of fires to put out.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch053/">CH053: Communicating Plans with Kids (with Amy Roberts)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips This episode is an excerpt of an hour-long live video chat between Amy Roberts and Mystie Winckler in 2016. Listen: Mystie and Amy chat about reactive v. responsive planning, communicating plans with children,Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips
This episode is an excerpt of an hour-long live video chat between Amy Roberts and Mystie Winckler in 2016.

Listen:
Mystie and Amy chat about reactive v. responsive planning, communicating plans with children, teaching kids time management, and what to do when life feels like a series of fires to put out.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean12:0454778SO053: Thoughtful Truthhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so053/
Mon, 29 Jan 2018 05:49:16 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=53895<p>Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude But we also need bite-sized truths to meditate, not just general reading. To meditate means to deliberate over, to ponder, to consider, to mull over. We can’t really mull over chapters upon chapters at a time. We need to give ourselves little segments to sink down deep, little bit by little bit. Over a lifetime, it creates a deep well. In order to meditate on truth, we have to know truth. We … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so053/" aria-label="SO053: Thoughtful Truth">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so053/">SO053: Thoughtful Truth</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude But we also need bite-sized truths to meditate, not just general reading. To meditate means to deliberate over, to ponder, to consider, to mull over. We can’t really mull over chapters upon chapters at a t...Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude
But we also need bite-sized truths to meditate, not just general reading. To meditate means to deliberate over, to ponder, to consider, to mull over. We can’t really mull over chapters upon chapters at a time. We need to give ourselves little segments to sink down deep, little bit by little bit. Over a lifetime, it creates a deep well.
In order to meditate on truth, we have to know truth. We have to be filling our minds with truth.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:4553895CH052: Homeschooling Middle & Little Kids (with Amy Roberts)https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch052/
Wed, 24 Jan 2018 13:30:07 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=53885<p>Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips This episode is an excerpt from a video workshop Mystie recorded with Amy Roberts in 2016. You can register for the entire replay, with bonus support material, by clicking the button below. Amy Roberts is the mother of 10, who has children from 20 to 2 years old. She and her husband have homeschooled from the beginning and shares what she’s learned and how she does it. Amy’s blog, Raising Arrows Amy’s Instagram, Amy … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch052/" aria-label="CH052: Homeschooling Middle & Little Kids (with Amy Roberts)">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch052/">CH052: Homeschooling Middle & Little Kids (with Amy Roberts)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips This episode is an excerpt from a video workshop Mystie recorded with Amy Roberts in 2016. You can register for the entire replay, with bonus support material, by clicking the button below.Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips
This episode is an excerpt from a video workshop Mystie recorded with Amy Roberts in 2016. You can register for the entire replay, with bonus support material, by clicking the button below.
Amy Roberts is the mother of 10, who has children from 20 to 2 years old. She and her husband have homeschooled from the beginning and shares what she’s learned and how she does it.

Listen:
This is a partial transcript of the episode.
Mystie: So in your large family how do you group your kids for instruction time?
Amy: I have natural sections of kids. There is almost a four year gap between what I call my “big kids” and “middle kids” and then there’s a gap between my “middle kids” and “small kids” because we lost a daughter eight years ago. So there’s a natural gap.
I always start with my littles. I get my big kids started with their individual work which is pretty auto-pilot for them. My two oldest don’t require much from me at all anymore. My middles still require some instruction, but they have things like handwriting and copyworb they can do without me.
I’ve said this a million times on the blog: it does not take as long as you think it does to teach little people. It takes 30 minutes. That’s it.
Mystie: So true! Until they’re about eight, we do a little phonics and a little math. But not even every day for those early years. If they’re resistant or stubborn, it’s better at those younger ages to have them on board when you are working with them rather than push them or turn school into a fight.
We want school to be this thing we do together. We need to pay attention to the atmosphere and dynamic that we’re having together and if that gets off track it’s better to just not do anything than to get into the habit of fighting over it in the morning.
Amy: I want my kids to love learning, and I want them to see it as a lifelong thing, so there are always lots of toys and hands-on things that they can be doing. The can be outside exploring and you’re doing science. I want them to love learning.
Mystie: And you’re only doing 30 minutes a day with your 5 & 7 year olds?
Amy: That’s right! That’s all it takes. The rest of the time is exploring outside, talking about things, reading books. I don’t count readalouds as school work. I’m talking 30 minutes seat work. That’s all those little people can handle.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean11:1153885SO052: Intentional Storieshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so052/
Mon, 22 Jan 2018 05:08:41 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=53867<p>Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude It’s difficult but essential to notice that our perception of what’s going on is an interpretation, a story overlaid on the bare facts. Stripping the story away entirely so that we are unconnected, stoic observers of our lives is not desirable, but we also do not have to be stuck with the story that first and naturally pops into our minds. And by changing our thoughts, we can change the story we … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so052/" aria-label="SO052: Intentional Stories">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so052/">SO052: Intentional Stories</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude It’s difficult but essential to notice that our perception of what’s going on is an interpretation, a story overlaid on the bare facts. Stripping the story away entirely so that we are unconnected,Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude
It’s difficult but essential to notice that our perception of what’s going on is an interpretation, a story overlaid on the bare facts. Stripping the story away entirely so that we are unconnected, stoic observers of our lives is not desirable, but we also do not have to be stuck with the story that first and naturally pops into our minds.
And by changing our thoughts, we can change the story we see ourselves acting.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:4653867CH051: Planning with a Large Homeschool Family (with Amy Roberts)https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch051/
Wed, 17 Jan 2018 10:03:36 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=53624<p>Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips This episode is an excerpt of an hour-long live video chat between Amy Roberts and Mystie Winckler in 2016. Amy Roberts is the mother of 10, who has children from 20 to 2 years old. She and her husband have homeschooled from the beginning and shares what she’s learned and how she does it. Amy’s blog, Raising Arrows Amy’s Instagram, Amy Raising Arrows Large Family Homeschooling eBook It’s Not a Season I’m In Table … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch051/" aria-label="CH051: Planning with a Large Homeschool Family (with Amy Roberts)">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch051/">CH051: Planning with a Large Homeschool Family (with Amy Roberts)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips This episode is an excerpt of an hour-long live video chat between Amy Roberts and Mystie Winckler in 2016. Amy Roberts is the mother of 10, who has children from 20 to 2 years old.Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips
This episode is an excerpt of an hour-long live video chat between Amy Roberts and Mystie Winckler in 2016.
Amy Roberts is the mother of 10, who has children from 20 to 2 years old. She and her husband have homeschooled from the beginning and shares what she’s learned and how she does it.

Listen:
This is a partial transcript of the episode.
Mystie: I really enjoyed your post awhile back about how the metaphor of seasons of life affected you and the metaphor you used instead. How we think about our life matters so much and changing the discouraging metaphors is so important. Can you tell us about that?
Amy: I had someone tell me that when this season is over you can do x, y, z. And I just found that extremely discouraging because I have been in this season for 18 years, and I probably have another 18 or more left, so telling me this is just a season was sort of discouraging. I felt I was never going to get past this season.

I really needed to see this a journey or a voyage, where I’m on it and living it right now. Instead of waiting to start my life, this is my life.
Mystie: Even just realizing the metaphor you’ve been told or have been using is becoming a source of discouragement and finding a way to change that metaphor is key. It matters a lot and can help that mindset, attitude shift, a lot.
So what does planning look like for you?
Amy: It has looked different over the years. For a long time I was able to do our homeschooling planning every Sunday night. I would sit down and plan through the next week. I’m not a long-range planner. I do a little bit at a time, about a week at a time. And some things we have on auto-pilot, so it’s never really planned in our homeschool.
Amy then explains her Traveler’s Journal planner method
Amy: I’m simply writing down what we’ve done. If I write down what we’ve done, I’m way more productive.
Amy then shares her current routine, how it’s changed, and what runs on auto-pilot in her home.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean12:0453624SO051: Realistic Expectationshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so051/
Mon, 15 Jan 2018 10:09:19 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=53679<p>Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude We only know what expectations are realistic when we evaluate our reality. We have to take that time to look back over that day we were at the end of our rope. What made us feel that way? What could we have done differently? How can we set things up to circumvent the frustration and prepare for what’s most likely to happen? Living life well is not about checking off as many … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so051/" aria-label="SO051: Realistic Expectations">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so051/">SO051: Realistic Expectations</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude We only know what expectations are realistic when we evaluate our reality. We have to take that time to look back over that day we were at the end of our rope. What made us feel that way?Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude
We only know what expectations are realistic when we evaluate our reality.
We have to take that time to look back over that day we were at the end of our rope. What made us feel that way? What could we have done differently? How can we set things up to circumvent the frustration and prepare for what’s most likely to happen?
Living life well is not about checking off as many tasks as possible. It’s about knowing and doing the right things.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:4453679CH050: Keeping Track of the Day’s Work (with Virginia Lee)https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch050/
Wed, 10 Jan 2018 05:23:58 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=45136<p>Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips Listen: Mystie: Alright, so in this episode we’re going to talk about keeping track of what needs to be done. If you have multiple children and multiple subjects to teach (and that’s pretty much all of us) then we have a lot to keep track of and a lot to make happen. So, I thought that we’d talk about different methods and strategies for keeping track of all that stuff. So, how do you … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch050/" aria-label="CH050: Keeping Track of the Day’s Work (with Virginia Lee)">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/ch050/">CH050: Keeping Track of the Day’s Work (with Virginia Lee)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips Listen: Mystie: Alright, so in this episode we’re going to talk about keeping track of what needs to be done. If you have multiple children and multiple subjects to teach (and that’s pretty much all of us) then we...Season 9: Real Life Homeschooling Tips

Listen:
Mystie: Alright, so in this episode we’re going to talk about keeping track of what needs to be done. If you have multiple children and multiple subjects to teach (and that’s pretty much all of us) then we have a lot to keep track of and a lot to make happen. So, I thought that we’d talk about different methods and strategies for keeping track of all that stuff. So, how do you keep things straight in an average homeschool day?
Virginia Lee: Well, I think my biggest battle in that is, honestly, just myself. I have a lot I want to get done in a day and a certain way I’d like it to happen by a certain time, and so, I really have to spend a lot of time just thinking about what are the underlying principles for my day and for these people that God’s gifted me with before I think about how to manage everything.
Mystie: Yeah.
Virginia Lee: So, I just spend a lot of time reminding myself that my children are born persons, being Charlotte Mason homeschoolers that is one of the key philosophies of Charlotte Mason and principles for our home, and so just whatever method I employ I have to remind myself am I respecting that fact that my children are born persons? It’s not about getting X number of things done by a certain time.
Mystie: Right.
Virginia Lee: And that just keeps me from steamrolling over everybody. Whatever you use to keep track of your daily stuff and make sure your daily things are going to happen we have to know what is our reason, what is our goal for doing all of this? We want our children to learn to care rightly about things, to serve their family, to be good stewards of their time, and to have a joyful personality through it all, so I think even when we’re thinking about what we’re going to use we have to be really aware of how am I modeling this and the things that I’m choosing to balance with is the stuff that’s me poking and prodding them through the day or rewarding them because they want marks and prizes, or am I allowing natural consequences of the good and the bad, that kind of thing. So, I guess that’s my biggest thing. I feel like there are a lot of different ways to manage how you’re going to juggle everything in a day for yourself and your kiddos but the most important part is to really think about what is my vision, what is my goal here, who are these eternal souls in my home, and what I choose to use, is it respecting that?
Mystie: And even how I’m implementing it.
Virginia Lee: Oh yes. See, here, I’m thinking about ‘OK, how am I going to organize this?’
Mystie: If you don’t know why you’re doing each of those things on the check list then you really don’t know how to prioritize. So, you really have to start from that why: why are you doing each thing? Why are the things prioritized the way that they are? And, why are keeping you track? Why are you managing the way that you’re managing? When you know those things I think it allows you to be flexible.
Virginia Lee: Especially when you’re not having an average day because, I mean, let’s face it—that’s probably not the norm. Average is to not have an average day when you have multiple different ages and people. So, I feel like I can say this is what we do in our house but sometimes I worry about that because then I think that people think, ‘Oh well, let me see your checklist. Let me see what timers or if you’re using something like that. Those things are helpful to see of other people’s …
Mystie: But that’s not really the best place to start. You can’t just adopt someone else’s strategies and methods and the way that they’re doing it, the little things that they’re doing and get the same results, because it’s really those underlying principles and the why.
Virginia Lee: And the remembering who our children are. So, I think a big thing in my home,]]>Mystie Wincklerclean17:1145136SO050: Brain Dump Tips (with Virginia Lee)https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so050/
Mon, 08 Jan 2018 10:09:52 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=45124<p>Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude This episode is a conversation between Mystie and Virginia Lee Rogers, who helps with member support. Mystie: So, welcome to the first episode of 2018. So, we’re going to be kicking off the season again with a conversation about brain dumps with Simplified Organization’s Customer Support Assistant, Virginia Lee Rogers. Thanks for joining me, Virginia Lee. Virginia Lee: Hi, Mystie, hi everyone. Mystie: Do you want to start with a brief introduction … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so050/" aria-label="SO050: Brain Dump Tips (with Virginia Lee)">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2018/so050/">SO050: Brain Dump Tips (with Virginia Lee)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude This episode is a conversation between Mystie and Virginia Lee Rogers, who helps with member support. Mystie: So, welcome to the first episode of 2018. So, we’re going to be kicking off the season again wi...Season 9: Quick Ways to Organize Your Attitude
This episode is a conversation between Mystie and Virginia Lee Rogers, who helps with member support.
Mystie: So, welcome to the first episode of 2018. So, we’re going to be kicking off the season again with a conversation about brain dumps with Simplified Organization’s Customer Support Assistant, Virginia Lee Rogers. Thanks for joining me, Virginia Lee.
Virginia Lee: Hi, Mystie, hi everyone.
Mystie: Do you want to start with a brief introduction for those who may not know you yet?
Virginia Lee: Sure, I can do that. I live in northern Colorado with my husband. We’ve been married for 17 years and we have five kiddos. Our oldest is 12 and our youngest is 16 months already (oh, it went so fast!). And then, we’re Charlotte Mason homeschoolers, and I guess if you want to know more than the brief introduction you can find me on Instagram. I don’t keep a blog or anything like that but I am on Instagram in quite a few places; I’m one of the nine curators for Charlotte Mason In Real Life on Instagram and I also run an Instagram bookstore called “The Jolly Reader”.
Mystie: So, I like to say that all organization projects should begin with a brain dump. So, I thought that the best place to start would be to talk briefly about what a brain dump is and then we can start talking about tips and hacks and troubleshooting and what works for us and that sort of thing. A brain dump is basically sitting down with a pen and paper and just writing down everything that’s in your head, either everything everything or just everything about a particular problem or a project, maybe, that’s driving you crazy. So, when you get it down and onto paper it really clears your head of the details and lets you look at what’s going on more objectively, it gives you a little perspective. David Allen, author of GTD (Getting Things Done) says that when you use paper to hold the information and the details then your mind is free for creative thinking and problem solving. So, it’s kind of like decluttering your brain.
Virginia Lee: Which we could all use.
Mystie: Especially with Christmas over and the New Year, it’s time to declutter.
Virginia Lee: Most definitely. Well, I have a question for you about that.
Mystie: OK.
Virginia Lee: With brain dumps do you feel like it’s really important to do it on paper or can a brain dump be done in an electronic version or way? I’ve always been curious about that.
Mystie: I’ve done it both ways. It’s kind of depended on what I’m brain dumping about because sometimes I just need to make a list. If my mind is really working fast I can type faster than I can write so then I’ll just open up something in Evernote and just start typing. I think it really depends on the person and the way you think and process. If I’m going to be writing sentences at all then I probably want to be typing because I’ll write better sentences, I’ll think through what I’m thinking about better if I’m typing, fingers move faster, but if I am not sure of the idea, like I’m trying to figure something out and brainstorm, maybe I want this thing over here and then I want to put something over here and make it a little more visual then writing it down is the better way to sort those ideas. And then, also, there’s just sometimes I’ve just had a notebook on the counter with a pen so that just here and there I can add a little bit.
Virginia Lee: That makes sense because on paper you can do things like draw arrows and circle things and sometimes,]]>Mystie Wincklerclean9:2645124SC049: Organized Homeschool White Boardhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc049/
Tue, 21 Nov 2017 09:51:09 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16644<p>Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff I’ve created a few iterations of a chore board over the last year and a half. First it was a poster board frame, and I wrote directly on the hard plastic frame. That worked well, because I could tuck it away quickly and easily when I didn’t want our schedule, consequences, and school assignments on display. Then, my 3-year-old used it as a slide (which means he was climbing up it). The frame and plastic … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc049/" aria-label="SC049: Organized Homeschool White Board">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc049/">SC049: Organized Homeschool White Board</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff I’ve created a few iterations of a chore board over the last year and a half. First it was a poster board frame, and I wrote directly on the hard plastic frame. That worked well,Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff
I’ve created a few iterations of a chore board over the last year and a half. First it was a poster board frame, and I wrote directly on the hard plastic frame. That worked well, because I could tuck it away quickly and easily when I didn’t want our schedule, consequences, and school assignments on display.
Then, my 3-year-old used it as a slide (which means he was climbing up it). The frame and plastic cracked. I tried to salvage it by simply sticking printed pages on it, but that simply didn’t work as well nor look as good.
So I explained the situation to my husband, asking for his diy-expertise to solve all my chore-board-issues. He is the brains and brawn behind this perfect solution.
Read the original post: Organizing Homeschool Stuff: Schedule & Chore Board

Listen:
Simple Sanity Saver: Memory Work Tips
The final thing to do is to put it all together so it’s convenient.
Organization is about being prepared not about being perfect. Pull everything you need for your Morning Time into one place where you can grab and go as smoothly as possible. Print or write your memory work and songs for the system you choose in Step 1. Gather the books and your memory work and make them a home; a shelf, a container, a box.
Print or write out your agenda and make it handy and durable. You can use a clipboard, page protectors, or laminate a page. It’s one thing to buy the books and supplies, to make a plan, to create a chart, and quite another to actually pull it off in a typical day. Days never go exactly as imagined but it’s worth it to take the time and imagine the day even so.
The more practice in imagining the day and planning for contingencies before the heat of the moment the better you’ll become at rolling with the punches of a real life homeschool day in a household bustling with people.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:5516644SO049: Menu Planning for Each Personality Typehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so049/
Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:09:13 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=36944<p>Season 8: Grocery Shopping Tips There’s more than one way to menu plan, and your personality will predict which one is most likely to work for you. So let’s break it down and see why that is and what might work for you that doesn’t work for me or your best friend – and why! Read the original post here: The Best Menu Planning Method for Each Personality Type Need help getting dinner on the table quickly, without … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so049/" aria-label="SO049: Menu Planning for Each Personality Type">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so049/">SO049: Menu Planning for Each Personality Type</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 8: Grocery Shopping Tips There’s more than one way to menu plan, and your personality will predict which one is most likely to work for you. So let’s break it down and see why that is and what might work for you that doesn’t work for me or your ...Season 8: Grocery Shopping Tips

There’s more than one way to menu plan, and your personality will predict which one is most likely to work for you.

So let’s break it down and see why that is and what might work for you that doesn’t work for me or your best friend – and why!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:4436944SC048: A Digital Homeschool Plannerhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc048/
Tue, 14 Nov 2017 10:05:56 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16623<p>Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff Keeping track of what each student is supposed to be doing, and making sure they are doing it is one of the struggles of homeschooling moms everywhere. Here’s how we’re managing it with a free online (and mobile) app called Trello. Some people use spiral notebooks for a daily list; we use Trello for weekly lists. Here are the details and even some video tutorials to get you started! Giving the kids a checklist of … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc048/" aria-label="SC048: A Digital Homeschool Planner">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc048/">SC048: A Digital Homeschool Planner</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff Keeping track of what each student is supposed to be doing, and making sure they are doing it is one of the struggles of homeschooling moms everywhere. Here’s how we’re managing it with a free online (and mobile) app...Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff
Keeping track of what each student is supposed to be doing, and making sure they are doing it is one of the struggles of homeschooling moms everywhere. Here’s how we’re managing it with a free online (and mobile) app called Trello.
Some people use spiral notebooks for a daily list; we use Trello for weekly lists. Here are the details and even some video tutorials to get you started!
Giving the kids a checklist of their own cuts down on the amount of nagging reminding I have to do, which makes everyone happier.
Read the original post: Weekly Homeschool Checklists in Trello

Listen:
Simple Sanity Saver: Morning Time Memorization Hacks
The next thing to do to set up your Morning Time memorization is to make an agenda; list out everything that you want to do in your own Morning Time gathering.
Ours usually involves listening to a chapter from Proverbs, prayer, singing, memory work, and sometimes we begin or end with a devotional reading or appreciation or a playlist of timeline or geography songs, but pick one. It’s also been fruitful for us to start with an overview of our day.
Once you have your first draft of an agenda estimate generously how long each item will take. Then add them up. For your first year of starting Morning Time try to start with under 30 minutes.
I always try to keep mine at less than 45 minutes and then block off about an hour for it because there will always be interruptions and issues. Our first years of Morning Time were like a refining fire that brought out all our impurities. No one could sit still, although they did it at dinner. Half of the time, at least half the participating (I use the word loosely) children and at that time half of them was equal to one were uncooperative and my oldest and I spent too much of the time vying for control of the situation and routine. It was clearly good for us.
Because Kendra Fletcher and Cindy Rollins were saying it was the best thing ever, I did not give up easily and was determined to stick it out. It was so worth it.
If you are in the midst of the Morning-Time-is-chaos phase be encouraged. It might take three years to overcome but it’s worth it. Those early years without older kids was just flat difficult. Change things up, problem solve, get creative, and persevere. Those little ones will be your leaders in just a few short years and your assets who will make maintaining consistency much easier in your next round of chaos.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:3240262SO048: How Often Should You Grocery Shop?https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so048/
Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:13:04 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=36752<p>Season 8: Grocery Shopping Tips Many factors go into the decision about how often you should grocery shop. But it will simplify life and greatly decrease the mental energy and stress involved if it is a decision rather than a haphazard, “Ack, we need milk today!” affair. There are three most common options: shopping weekly, every other week, and monthly. As always, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Many families are likely to choose some combination of these strategies. … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so048/" aria-label="SO048: How Often Should You Grocery Shop?">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so048/">SO048: How Often Should You Grocery Shop?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 8: Grocery Shopping Tips Many factors go into the decision about how often you should grocery shop. But it will simplify life and greatly decrease the mental energy and stress involved if it is a decision rather than a haphazard, “Ack,Season 8: Grocery Shopping Tips
Many factors go into the decision about how often you should grocery shop. But it will simplify life and greatly decrease the mental energy and stress involved if it is a decision rather than a haphazard, “Ack, we need milk today!” affair.
There are three most common options: shopping weekly, every other week, and monthly. As always, there are advantages and disadvantages to each.
Many families are likely to choose some combination of these strategies.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:1636752SC047: How I Catalog My Bookshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc047/
Tue, 07 Nov 2017 10:13:36 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16514<p>Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff You know I love lists. And I also love books. So what could be better than a list of books? How about a list of my books? I won’t try to convince you that you need to catalog your books, because you probably don’t. But having a catalog of the books on my own shelves is something inherently appealing to me, and it might be to you, too. Read the original post: How I catalogued … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc047/" aria-label="SC047: How I Catalog My Books">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc047/">SC047: How I Catalog My Books</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff You know I love lists. And I also love books. So what could be better than a list of books? How about a list of my books? I won’t try to convince you that you need to catalog your books, because you probably don’t.Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff
You know I love lists. And I also love books. So what could be better than a list of books?
How about a list of my books?
I won’t try to convince you that you need to catalog your books, because you probably don’t. But having a catalog of the books on my own shelves is something inherently appealing to me, and it might be to you, too.
Read the original post: How I catalogued my personal library

Listen:
Simple Sanity Saver: Morning Time Memorization Hacks
The next thing to do is to choose your new memory work. Here are some categories of memory work you might want to choose from: Scripture, Psalms, hymns and songs, Latin chants, poetry, catechism and creeds, historical speeches, mottos, maxims or quotes.
Start with only 1-3 items; start with only 1-3 passages, or 1-3 new things per term. Build slowly but consistently and you’ll be amazed at your own index once you’ve been doing this for a few years. You can check out my memory work index here.
Rather than pursuing perfect recitation that will likely not last beyond their childhood I’m seeking more to begin to set a deep foundation that would be continually and cyclically renewed and built upon throughout their lives. I want familiarity, language patterns and ideas to seep in.
I’m not a meticulous person, I am more of a hack. We recite one passage and one Psalm daily for one term which is six weeks and whether it’s memorized in two weeks or not memorized perfectly yet by the end we move it to the review section and start a new one. After a week or two of saying it daily, however, usually the children can recite it by the end of the term.
But because my goal is building a lifetime of familiarity rather than perfect rote memory the fact that they rarely say it perfectly no longer frustrates me. This is my own personal good-enough-and-works-for-us memory method because it keeps my priority on being simple, no pressure, and focused on exposure, familiarity, and whole ideas rather than perfection. If memory work has been a stressful thing in your family don’t give it up, just pare it back, remove the pressure and expectation, and remember that God’s Word is active and will bear fruit in time.
You can find my memory work binder tutorials here.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:2140260SO047: Plan All the Mealshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so047/
Mon, 06 Nov 2017 10:47:15 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=35679<p>Season 8: Grocery Shopping I know it seems overwhelming. I know even just planning dinner sometimes seems overwhelming. But, seriously, who wants to wake up and decide in the pre-coffee fog what to feed the troops for breakfast? It has to be decided ahead of time. Read the original post here: You need to plan ALL THE MEALS</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so047/">SO047: Plan All the Meals</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 8: Grocery Shopping I know it seems overwhelming. I know even just planning dinner sometimes seems overwhelming. But, seriously, who wants to wake up and decide in the pre-coffee fog what to feed the troops for breakfast?Season 8: Grocery Shopping
I know it seems overwhelming.
I know even just planning dinner sometimes seems overwhelming.
But, seriously, who wants to wake up and decide in the pre-coffee fog what to feed the troops for breakfast?
It has to be decided ahead of time.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean3:3535679SC046: Homeschooling Without a Schoolroomhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc046/
Tue, 31 Oct 2017 15:01:33 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16507<p>Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff We homeschool without a schoolroom. Like many homeschoolers, the kitchen table is where much of our work happens. We use our kitchen table, we use our dining room table, we use our couch, and we make due with the space we have. I could write up a great-sounding post about why we don’t have a school room on principle. Something about school blending in with real life and not being contained in a separate box. … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc046/" aria-label="SC046: Homeschooling Without a Schoolroom">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc046/">SC046: Homeschooling Without a Schoolroom</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff We homeschool without a schoolroom. Like many homeschoolers, the kitchen table is where much of our work happens. We use our kitchen table, we use our dining room table, we use our couch,Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff
We homeschool without a schoolroom. Like many homeschoolers, the kitchen table is where much of our work happens. We use our kitchen table, we use our dining room table, we use our couch, and we make due with the space we have.
I could write up a great-sounding post about why we don’t have a school room on principle. Something about school blending in with real life and not being contained in a separate box.
But the truth is that I’d rather have a playroom than a schoolroom, a place for the toddlers and preschoolers to freely set up a block city complete with railroad tracks, a place for the air hockey table we inherited, a place for the computers that are used both for work and for play. And our house layout doesn’t have the space for both a playroom and a schoolroom.
Read the original post: Homeschooling Without a School Room

Listen:
Simple Sanity Saver: Morning Time Memorization Hacks
The second thing you need to do for morning time memory is gather your memory work review material.
What memory work have you already learned? What songs are already part of your family culture? Start a list. Morning Time doesn’t have to be long or complicated. We all start where we are and just take the next step. Even if you have no memory work at all under your belt just start with Psalm 1 and begin building.
Whenever we set out to do something we should know what end we’re aiming for, what goal we are attempting, what point we want to make. I know when I think of memory work I’m tempted to envision my five children lined up in a row in perfect unison and cheerful voices reciting an entire Psalm. Of course, their shirts would even be clean at the same time and that just goes to show this is totally an imaginary scenario.
But what I actually want is to be never done with a piece of memory work. What I want is for it to be planted within us, to grow and blossom in its time, for us to grow and love God’s Word and poetry and beautiful language more and more and more the more time we spend with it.
If we desire to commit to memory whole thoughts, entire passages, whole chapters, we must commit to investing lots and lots of time. This is hard because in the short term we rarely have anything to show for it. With a handful of random verses memorized a child can stand up, recite them perfectly, earn a prize, and then empty his mind so he can learn the next set. Mom gets the moment of performance glory and the child gets some candy. But if we want to learn whole passages, if we want to learn the Creeds, the old hymns of the faith, and beautiful poetry, we will have to be content postponing seeing the fruits of our investments.
It will take years, and not weeks, but it’s worth it to stick at that review and continue growing those seeds.
It will be worth it.
You can find my memory work binder tutorials here.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean14:0016507SO046: Taking Kids to the Grocery Storehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so046/
Mon, 30 Oct 2017 14:03:39 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=34819<p>Season 8: Grocery Shopping I think taking the kids with me on my grocery excursions is a valuable thing to do. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t exhausting. But, my kids are homeschooled, and they do need to get out just as much as I do. Plus, they are homeschooled, so they think going to the grocery store is a grand day out. Plus, I am a homeschooler, so I think it counts as a field trip and “real life … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so046/" aria-label="SO046: Taking Kids to the Grocery Store">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so046/">SO046: Taking Kids to the Grocery Store</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 8: Grocery Shopping I think taking the kids with me on my grocery excursions is a valuable thing to do. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t exhausting. But, my kids are homeschooled, and they do need to get out just as much as I do. Plus,Season 8: Grocery Shopping
I think taking the kids with me on my grocery excursions is a valuable thing to do. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t exhausting. But, my kids are homeschooled, and they do need to get out just as much as I do. Plus, they are homeschooled, so they think going to the grocery store is a grand day out. Plus, I am a homeschooler, so I think it counts as a field trip and “real life learning.”
Over the 12 years I’ve been grocery shopping with kids in tow, I’ve learned some tricks and techniques.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:0734819SC045: Organizing Your Homeschool with Shelves & Binshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc045/
Tue, 24 Oct 2017 02:55:08 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16490<p>Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff The real trick about having a tidy or organized house is for everything to have a home. Things without homes are clutter. Things with homes can be put away, leaving space for life to happen. Mid-day, the house might look chaotic, but by evening, if everything has a place to go, it can look decently in order again. Read the original post: Homeschooling Without a School Room: Shelves Listen: Simple Sanity Saver: Morning Time Memorization … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc045/" aria-label="SC045: Organizing Your Homeschool with Shelves & Bins">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc045/">SC045: Organizing Your Homeschool with Shelves & Bins</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff The real trick about having a tidy or organized house is for everything to have a home. Things without homes are clutter. Things with homes can be put away, leaving space for life to happen. Mid-day,Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff
The real trick about having a tidy or organized house is for everything to have a home. Things without homes are clutter. Things with homes can be put away, leaving space for life to happen. Mid-day, the house might look chaotic, but by evening, if everything has a place to go, it can look decently in order again.
Read the original post: Homeschooling Without a School Room: Shelves

Listen:
Simple Sanity Saver: Morning Time Memorization Hacks
First, you have to start by picking your memory work organization method. How do you want to run your morning memory work time? Will you say a line and have the children repeat it back to you? Will you handwrite each piece on an index card or type it out and print them out? Would it work better if each student had his own binder? Could you set it all up in Evernote and avoid a bunch of papers?
I use a binder and make a duplicate copy of each binder for each reading student. For some reason my children had a hard time repeating back after me when they were younger but they were early readers so we switched to this method and simply read aloud each passage that I wanted them to memorize daily having them follow along with their ears and mouth.
Having this binder system also allowed us to continue morning time memorization routine when a baby started fussing or a toddler needed attention. The kids could just keep on trucking.
You can find my memory work binder tutorials here.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean8:4840259SO045: Grocery Store Tipshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so045/
Mon, 23 Oct 2017 04:22:39 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=34264<p>Season 8: Grocery Shopping How many grocery store trips feel like a random grab-bag and confused wandering? It happens to us all, but if feeding our people and keeping the shelves stocked is an important part of our service – and it is – then we need some better strategies for making the most of our grocery trips. We want to minimize the time they take, the brain power they require, and the mistakes and oversights we make. Here are … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so045/" aria-label="SO045: Grocery Store Tips">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so045/">SO045: Grocery Store Tips</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 8: Grocery Shopping How many grocery store trips feel like a random grab-bag and confused wandering? It happens to us all, but if feeding our people and keeping the shelves stocked is an important part of our service – and it is – then we need s...Season 8: Grocery Shopping
How many grocery store trips feel like a random grab-bag and confused wandering? It happens to us all, but if feeding our people and keeping the shelves stocked is an important part of our service – and it is – then we need some better strategies for making the most of our grocery trips.
We want to minimize the time they take, the brain power they require, and the mistakes and oversights we make.
Here are five tips to help us do just that.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:4634264SC044: How We Organize Homeschool Stuff – with Virginia Leehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc044/
Tue, 17 Oct 2017 10:00:46 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16473<p>Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff We are doing something new starting this season and that is kicking things off with a FAQ episode. Joining me to do this is Virginia Lee Rogers. Virginia Lee and I have known each other online for years and she is now helping me with customer support so if you send an email to Simplified Organization or Simply Convivial you might just get a reply back from Virginia Lee and I want you to get … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc044/" aria-label="SC044: How We Organize Homeschool Stuff – with Virginia Lee">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc044/">SC044: How We Organize Homeschool Stuff – with Virginia Lee</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff We are doing something new starting this season and that is kicking things off with a FAQ episode. Joining me to do this is Virginia Lee Rogers. Virginia Lee and I have known each other online for years and she is no...Season 8: Organize Homeschool Stuff
We are doing something new starting this season and that is kicking things off with a FAQ episode.
Joining me to do this is Virginia Lee Rogers. Virginia Lee and I have known each other online for years and she is now helping me with customer support so if you send an email to Simplified Organization or Simply Convivial you might just get a reply back from Virginia Lee and I want you to get to know her as well because she is a great resource. She is the homeschooling mom of five children and also an ENTJ. So, we have a very similar approach which will be fun to talk about.
Mystie: And so, Virginia Lee, you want to tell us a little bit more about you and where people can find you online?
Virginia Lee: Yes, I’d love to. I live in Colorado and I’ve been married for 17 years. We have five kids and we are a Charlotte Mason homeschooling family. And just sort of all different personalities in our crew but I guess probably the best way to describe us is just joyfully chaotic, sort of organized chaos but lots of joy. It’s not quiet at our house. And online, I don’t keep a blog, but I am on Instagram quite a bit. You can find me on — I run an Instagram bookshop called “The Jolly Reader” sort of a play on “The Jolly Rogers” since that’s our family’s name. And then I am also one of the nine curators for Charlotte Mason in Real Life. That’s on Instagram at CMIRL, we share posts from the community that show how different families are implementing Charlotte Mason’s philosophies but in a practical, day to day life. It’s a really joyful community filled with a lot of encouragement but also just really showing how you can take Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and live it out practically day by day.

Mystie: That’s fun. So this season, season 8 of the Simply Convivial podcast is going to be about organizing homeschool stuff. So I thought we’d just have a brief conversation about how stuff gets organized in our homes. I think it’s easy when you say “organized” to start thinking of the magazines or the Pinterest where organized means everything looks really pretty and looking pretty is nice especially if you’re a personality who’s good at that but I’m not. Really, being organized is about having a home for things and knowing where things go. So everything has a place so that then you can put it away because it has a place. So we’re going to talk about some of the ways that we give stuff homes in our homeschools. Virginia Lee, what kind of homes do you have in your homeschool?
Virginia Lee: Well, I guess one of my biggest things is that I’m not a big stuff person so if I have the stuff in my house it has to have a home and if I can’t find a home for it, it probably means I don’t need it. So I guess that’s one of the biggest ways I look at stuff. In fact my kids give me a hard time, “Don’t throw this away, we’re going to put this here so mom can’t throw it away!” But the other big thing of what I think of when I’m going to organize stuff is I need it to be practical. I’m not very good, like you said, I’m not one of those personalities where everything is pretty and maybe always pleasing to the eye but with the way our crew works is that it needs to be practical, it needs to be sturdy, and it needs to be in places where we can actually use it.
Mystie: Right. I think that’s key. Because we have a basement so I could reserve a shelf in the basement and put things away on the shelf downstairs where they’d be out of the way but if they’re too much out of the way I’ll end up not actually using them.
Virginia Lee: Yes, we are the same way. We do school in all different locations in our home and so we don’t use a s...]]>Mystie Winckler clean18:0516473SO044: How We Fit in Grocery Shoppinghttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so044/
Mon, 16 Oct 2017 11:00:56 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=33960<p>Season 8: Grocery Shopping Tips We’re doing something new this season. We’re going to be starting off each season with a FAQ episode about the season’s topic. This season is going to be about grocery shopping so I’m here with Virginia Lee Rogers who is helping me with customer support for Simplified Organization and we are going to talk about how to fit grocery shopping into our busy schedules. Transcript Mystie: So, hello, Virginia Lee. Virginia Lee: Hi, Mystie, thanks … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so044/" aria-label="SO044: How We Fit in Grocery Shopping">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so044/">SO044: How We Fit in Grocery Shopping</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 8: Grocery Shopping Tips We’re doing something new this season. We’re going to be starting off each season with a FAQ episode about the season’s topic. This season is going to be about grocery shopping so I’m here with Virginia Lee Rogers who is...Season 8: Grocery Shopping Tips
We’re doing something new this season. We’re going to be starting off each season with a FAQ episode about the season’s topic. This season is going to be about grocery shopping so I’m here with Virginia Lee Rogers who is helping me with customer support for Simplified Organization and we are going to talk about how to fit grocery shopping into our busy schedules.
Transcript
Mystie: So, hello, Virginia Lee.
Virginia Lee: Hi, Mystie, thanks for having me.
Mystie: Do you want to tell us a little bit about yourself?
Virginia Lee: I’d love to. I live in Colorado and I am a homeschooling mom of five kiddos ages 12 and under and we are Charlotte Mason homeschoolers. To find me online I don’t keep a blog but I am on Instagram quite a bit, I run an Instagram book shop called “The Jolly Reader” sort of a play on words for “The Jolly Rogers” since Rogers is our last name and I’m also one of the nine ladies who curate Charlotte Mason In Real Life and that’s on Instagram at CMIRL, so that’s sort of a community where show what it looks like to take Charlotte Mason’s philosophies and live those out practically day by day.

Mystie: Awesome. So, both of us are homeschooling and we have five kids and it turns out that these people need to eat. That means we need to go to the grocery store.
Virginia Lee: Yes, yes, yes.
Mystie: So I think one of the things that really makes a difference in the grocery store routine and getting it in there is how close they are because how much commuting time there is really makes a big difference in where it can fit in.
Virginia Lee: Yes, most definitely. And especially, we live in Colorado so the weather six months out of the year is not always optimal. So that is a big thing to think of if you’re going to have to drive any sort of distance.
Mystie: So how is the town where you are? Are the discount grocers close or do you … ?
Virginia Lee: We have a bulk store in our town and we have a couple of chain grocery stores as well and the chain grocery stores that we have are definitely not discount stores they’re a little more expensive but they’re not bad if you want to find something specific and they always tend to have better produce, of course. But I am not one of those people who likes to shop at four or five different places…
Mystie: No.
Virginia Lee: … so I’d rather plan my menus around what I can get from the most convenient place to shop and I know some moms don’t mind at all, they enjoy it and they’ll go to a few different spots to get their groceries, but I’m just not really in that season of life right now.
Mystie: Yeah. I used to but I think that was maybe it was baby number three where I stopped.
Virginia Lee: Yes, yes. We’ve done grocery shopping a couple of different ways and I think you’re right it really does depend do you have a baby, do you have older kids going with you, you know, that kind of thing. For awhile we used to, at the bulk store that we have, you can put in online orders so you can just get online, choose every single thing you want, and place the order, and you do have to be prepared because you can’t do it the day you want to pick it up, I mean, you have to do it at least the day before, they need a day to get it and process it but what we used to do is I would stick that order in on Saturday because dad was home and so that allowed me a chunk of time to get online and have complete thoughts without interruptions, get that put in, and then we’d go to church on Sunday and then when church was out the bulk store was sort of near our church so we’d just go as a whole family over there,]]>Mystie Winckler clean9:1633960SC043: Homeschool Mottoshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc043/
Tue, 03 Oct 2017 08:38:43 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16406<p>Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere We recite mottos during our Morning Time. I think the first place I encountered the idea was when listening to ACCS teacher training audio (back before there were CiRCE conferences or podcasts). The elementary classes of Logos School, at least back in the old days, had mottos they recited daily that then the teacher could call to mind when they were relevant. As a family, we already had a few little sayings – ways to … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc043/" aria-label="SC043: Homeschool Mottos">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc043/">SC043: Homeschool Mottos</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere We recite mottos during our Morning Time. I think the first place I encountered the idea was when listening to ACCS teacher training audio (back before there were CiRCE conferences or podcasts).Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere
We recite mottos during our Morning Time.
I think the first place I encountered the idea was when listening to ACCS teacher training audio (back before there were CiRCE conferences or podcasts). The elementary classes of Logos School, at least back in the old days, had mottos they recited daily that then the teacher could call to mind when they were relevant.
As a family, we already had a few little sayings – ways to keep a frequent command familiar, memorable, and pithy.
Over the years I’ve collected mottos, adding to and subtracting from our repertoire, but finally settling down on a select few for this year.
This year, these mottos are behind the daily tab of our binder, and most days we go over them quickly. We alternate this selection with a selection of pithy Shakespearean proverbs each term.
These mottos are not only reminders for the kids. They are reminders for myself, as well.
Read the original post: Morning Time Mottos for Moms & Kids

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Simple Sanity Saver: Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.
To learn and grow ourselves, we must repeat our lessons.
Knowing is not the same as doing, isn’t that the truth?
Learning is not simply knowing. It is acting in accordance to what we know. Every day. So, learning is not a once-and-done thing. It’s daily bringing our actions in line with our knowledge. Yes, to learn and grow we have to expand our knowledge, but we also have to grow our capacity for living out the knowledge we have. Application – continual, daily application – is a part of learning.
So when you have to do the dishes again, teach a math lesson again, put on a smile again, repent again, rejoice again, sweep the floor again, don’t pine for time to read more, thinking that’s real learning. It is, but so is the living it out. So embrace the daily repetitions, the daily opportunities to put into practice what we know.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Winckler clean8:2816406SO043: Focused Habitshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so043/
Mon, 02 Oct 2017 11:00:12 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=33280<p>Season 7: Habits We are often encouraged to set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. It sounds great, and those goals do have a place. But when much of our lives is about developing people (ourselves and our children), we can’t put ourselves or others into such neat little boxes. We must treat people as people instead of as projects. So for many of our hopes for the future, we’d do better to focus on our processes – what … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so043/" aria-label="SO043: Focused Habits">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so043/">SO043: Focused Habits</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 7: Habits We are often encouraged to set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. It sounds great, and those goals do have a place. But when much of our lives is about developing people (ourselves and our children),Season 7: Habits
We are often encouraged to set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. It sounds great, and those goals do have a place. But when much of our lives is about developing people (ourselves and our children), we can’t put ourselves or others into such neat little boxes. We must treat people as people instead of as projects. So for many of our hopes for the future, we’d do better to focus on our processes – what we do today and tomorrow and the next day – rather than on reaching a particular outcome.
Aim for the habits and the actions, not the outcome.

]]>Mystie Winckler clean4:4633280SC042: The Secret to Sanityhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc042/
Tue, 26 Sep 2017 08:00:05 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16350<p>Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere In the first episode of The Scholé Sisters Podcast we talk about how levity – lightheartedness, humor, cheerfulness – is a burnout prevention method. When we sink into seriousness, into get-it-all-done mode, into self-importance, we’re bound to be pulled down, lose our joy, and want to give up. To prevent burnout and also to recover from it, we need to shed our anxieties and pride – and we do that through laughter. Laughter comes from … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc042/" aria-label="SC042: The Secret to Sanity">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc042/">SC042: The Secret to Sanity</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere In the first episode of The Scholé Sisters Podcast we talk about how levity – lightheartedness, humor, cheerfulness – is a burnout prevention method. When we sink into seriousness, into get-it-all-done mode,Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere
In the first episode of The Scholé Sisters Podcast we talk about how levity – lightheartedness, humor, cheerfulness – is a burnout prevention method. When we sink into seriousness, into get-it-all-done mode, into self-importance, we’re bound to be pulled down, lose our joy, and want to give up.
To prevent burnout and also to recover from it, we need to shed our anxieties and pride – and we do that through laughter.
Laughter comes from a humble heart, a heart not weighed down with burdens or full of itself.
Read the original post: The Secret to Sanity at Home

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Simple Sanity Saver: Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.
To teach our children, we must repeat ourselves.
Did you catch that these three words are not only alliterative. They don’t just all begin with R, they all begin with re. They are all words that require repetition, doing again, over and over.
Repenting and rejoicing are not once-and-done projects or tasks. They are to characterize all our lives, every day.
If you find you have to repent again, even though you did yesterday, don’t get discouraged and disheartened, just do it. Then comes the ability to rejoice in God’s grace, not our own strength.
If you find you have to tell your children the same thing again today that you did yesterday, don’t despair. Just repeat and remember to rejoice because God’s giving you a chance to exercise His patience, kindness, and steadfastness.
Repetition is built into life. Don’t fight it. Just do it.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean9:3516350SO042: Productive Habitshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so042/
Mon, 25 Sep 2017 09:00:14 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=33168<p>Season 7: Habits What does being productive even mean? It’s not simply getting more done, but getting the right things done, done well, and done cheerfully. Whether or not you want to do more in 2016, I bet you want to do what you do better – whether that means more consistently, more joyfully, or more skillfully. Me, too. Just because I write about productivity and organization doesn’t mean I have it all together. It just means I’m always paying … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so042/" aria-label="SO042: Productive Habits">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so042/">SO042: Productive Habits</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 7: Habits What does being productive even mean? It’s not simply getting more done, but getting the right things done, done well, and done cheerfully. Whether or not you want to do more in 2016, I bet you want to do what you do better – whether t...Season 7: Habits
What does being productive even mean?
It’s not simply getting more done, but getting the right things done, done well, and done cheerfully.
Whether or not you want to do more in 2016, I bet you want to do what you do better – whether that means more consistently, more joyfully, or more skillfully.
Me, too.
Just because I write about productivity and organization doesn’t mean I have it all together. It just means I’m always paying attention and trying to improve. I write what I need to hear myself as much as what I’ve learned and what I do.
If we can hone in on these practices, we will become more effective in and more satisfied with our work.

]]>Mystie Winckler clean6:0833168SC041: The Scary Homeschool Momhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc041/
Tue, 19 Sep 2017 10:00:49 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16303<p>Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere You’ve met her. Maybe you’ve been her. Maybe you are her. Some homeschool moms might scare you. Some homeschool moms scare their children. But I think we’ve all experienced another kind of scary homeschool mom: the one who scares herself. Are you scary? Who do you scare? Read the original post: The Scary Homeschool Mom Listen: Recommended Reading: Simple Sanity Saver: Repent. Rejoice. Repeat. To learn and grow ourselves, we must rejoice. Learning and growing … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc041/" aria-label="SC041: The Scary Homeschool Mom">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc041/">SC041: The Scary Homeschool Mom</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere You’ve met her. Maybe you’ve been her. Maybe you are her. Some homeschool moms might scare you. Some homeschool moms scare their children. But I think we’ve all experienced another kind of scary homeschool mom: the one who s...Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere
You’ve met her. Maybe you’ve been her. Maybe you are her.
Some homeschool moms might scare you. Some homeschool moms scare their children. But I think we’ve all experienced another kind of scary homeschool mom: the one who scares herself.
Are you scary? Who do you scare?
Read the original post: The Scary Homeschool Mom

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Simple Sanity Saver: Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.
To learn and grow ourselves, we must rejoice.
Learning and growing is stifled by pride, anger, and bitterness. Rejoicing is not only the opposite of these vices, it is also the antidote.

When we’re on our guard, resentful, tight-fisted, angry, proud, our minds and hearts close up and harden. When we rejoice, our minds and hearts are open, receptive, and soft.
Of course, when we have closed ourselves off, we often cannot do the work of changing our heart. But God can and will if we ask and submit, giving up our bad attitudes for His good ones.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Winckler clean8:5716303SO041: Start with Habitshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so041/
Mon, 18 Sep 2017 11:00:53 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=33039<p>Season 7: Habits Rather than grandiose goals for a new year, we should be focusing on small habits that we can build upon. These new year habits continue giving, because they become automatic. So we can gain their benefit without expending much energy to do so. A habit is an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary. Read the original post here: Start New Year Well: Keystone Habits Recommended Reading</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so041/">SO041: Start with Habits</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 7: Habits Rather than grandiose goals for a new year, we should be focusing on small habits that we can build upon. These new year habits continue giving, because they become automatic. So we can gain their benefit without expending much energy ...Season 7: Habits
Rather than grandiose goals for a new year, we should be focusing on small habits that we can build upon. These new year habits continue giving, because they become automatic. So we can gain their benefit without expending much energy to do so.
A habit is an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.

Simple Sanity Saver: Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.
To teach our children, we must rejoice.
Our tone and our mood as mothers and teachers matters immensely. Is this life of learning, this life of sanctification a good life or a bore? Is it a good life or a torture? Our demeanors teach our children about life.
The good life isn’t the easy life. We shouldn’t think so and we don’t want our children to think so. How will they recognize the good life? By smiles, laughter, enjoyment, joy.
If we do not have joy, we will not teach effectively the most important lessons. If we do not have joy, God can and will supply it when we ask – it is a fruit of the Spirit. It’s not something we have to gin up – it’s something that comes when we’re willing to forsake our sins, set aside our own agendas, and receive God’s grace, minute by minute.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Winckler clean9:0316252SO040: The Habit of Making My Bedhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so040/
Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:07:52 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=31361<p>Season 7: Habits Why make my bed? It is not so much the made bed itself that is the goal, but the “easy win” factor. By making my bed in the morning I set the tone for the day. It is a victory of willpower (because I’m pathetic and require willpower to make my bed) that doesn’t tax my willpower much (not, like, breaking a habit of eating chocolate in the evening – for a purely theoretical example). Walking in … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so040/" aria-label="SO040: The Habit of Making My Bed">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so040/">SO040: The Habit of Making My Bed</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 7: Habits Why make my bed? It is not so much the made bed itself that is the goal, but the “easy win” factor. By making my bed in the morning I set the tone for the day. It is a victory of willpower (because I’m pathetic and require willpower to...Season 7: Habits
Why make my bed?
It is not so much the made bed itself that is the goal, but the “easy win” factor. By making my bed in the morning I set the tone for the day. It is a victory of willpower (because I’m pathetic and require willpower to make my bed) that doesn’t tax my willpower much (not, like, breaking a habit of eating chocolate in the evening – for a purely theoretical example).
Walking in upon a room with a made bed is a reminder throughout the day that I am in charge, I am making progress, I am becoming a more orderly person.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:0231361SC039: Choose Convivialityhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc039/
Tue, 05 Sep 2017 10:00:30 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16240<p>Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere Is happiness an emotion reserved for those who have an easy life? Right now I have a child who thinks happiness is a life without math fact drill pages. And, he’s onto something that misery is dragging one’s feet and taking three hours to do what should take one three minutes. However, cause and effect might be different than his perception. The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but liking what … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc039/" aria-label="SC039: Choose Conviviality">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc039/">SC039: Choose Conviviality</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere Is happiness an emotion reserved for those who have an easy life? Right now I have a child who thinks happiness is a life without math fact drill pages. And, he’s onto something that misery is dragging one’s feet and taking ...Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere
Is happiness an emotion reserved for those who have an easy life? Right now I have a child who thinks happiness is a life without math fact drill pages.
And, he’s onto something that misery is dragging one’s feet and taking three hours to do what should take one three minutes. However, cause and effect might be different than his perception.
The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but liking what one has to do. — J.M. Barrie
Read the original post: Choosing Conviviality or Perpetuating a Pity Party?

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Simple Sanity Saver: Repent. Rejoice. Repeat.
To learn and grow ourselves, we must repent.
George Grant has said that education is repentance. That’s because before we can learn, we must admit that we don’t know, that we need something we don’t have, that we’re inadequate.
Learning requires humility, a willingness to be wrong, an openness to truth, goodness, and beauty, even if it becomes uncomfortable to our pride.
True learning should not make us proud, boastful, or arrogant. Learning should put us in the posture of wonder and curiosity and humility. If it doesn’t, we can repent. We can ask God to change our hearts and help us take our eyes off ourselves so we can better see and know Him and His Word and His world.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Winckler clean5:4916240SO039: Focus on Keystone Habitshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so039/
Mon, 04 Sep 2017 11:00:11 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=31227<p>Season 7: Habits Typically, people who exercise, start eating better and becoming more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family. They use their credit cards less frequently and say they feel less stressed. Exercise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change. – Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit Keystone habits, according to Charles Duhigg, are habits that give “small wins [that] fuel transformative changes by leveraging tiny advantages into patterns that convince … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so039/" aria-label="SO039: Focus on Keystone Habits">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so039/">SO039: Focus on Keystone Habits</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 7: Habits Typically, people who exercise, start eating better and becoming more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family. They use their credit cards less frequently and say they feel less stressed.Organization podcast: Incremental change is the best approach, and keystone habits are the increments that have the biggest impact.Mystie Winckler clean4:3031227SC038: Mom’s Mood Mattershttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc038/
Tue, 29 Aug 2017 10:00:18 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16206<p>Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere It was about 5 years ago now that I deleted my old blog and started over from scratch, choosing the name Convivial Home for my new effort. A real estate agent promptly offered me a large sum for that domain, so I sold it and switched my name to Simply Convivial. I did not want to let go of the word convivial – though perhaps it is a more unusual word than I realized. Convivial … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc038/" aria-label="SC038: Mom’s Mood Matters">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc038/">SC038: Mom’s Mood Matters</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 7: Mom As Atmosphere It was about 5 years ago now that I deleted my old blog and started over from scratch, choosing the name Convivial Home for my new effort. A real estate agent promptly offered me a large sum for that domain,Convivial must describe our life as a whole, and learning, living, and loving must be intertwined.Mystie Winckler clean7:2516206SO038: Habits, Not Resultshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so038/
Mon, 28 Aug 2017 11:00:14 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=31091<p>Season 7: Habits What will bring lasting traction? It’s our habits – those small daily patterns that keep life rolling, not only for us, but for our entire family. When we focus on those little things we do daily, we will build gradual, incremental change that will provide lasting momentum and real progress. Recommended Reading Read the original post here: How to Focus on Habits, not Results</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so038/">SO038: Habits, Not Results</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 7: Habits What will bring lasting traction? It’s our habits – those small daily patterns that keep life rolling, not only for us, but for our entire family. When we focus on those little things we do daily, we will build gradual,When we focus on those little things we do daily, we will build gradual, incremental change that will provide lasting momentum and real progress.Mystie Winckler clean4:0931091SC037: How to lesson plan so you’re never behindhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc037-lesson-plan-youre-never-behind/
Thu, 17 Aug 2017 15:38:08 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16182<p>Season 6: Homeschool Planning Some homeschool moms – maybe those with school-teacher backgrounds – have elaborate homeschool lesson plans – full sheets of papers full of ideas, notes, references, activities, and objectives. Many homeschool moms have no lesson plans at all. I have never been in that first category, but more often find myself in the latter. Even though I love planning, lesson plans seemed more like a waste of time than anything else. The truth is that a plan … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc037-lesson-plan-youre-never-behind/" aria-label="SC037: How to lesson plan so you’re never behind">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc037-lesson-plan-youre-never-behind/">SC037: How to lesson plan so you’re never behind</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 6: Homeschool Planning Some homeschool moms – maybe those with school-teacher backgrounds – have elaborate homeschool lesson plans – full sheets of papers full of ideas, notes, references, activities, and objectives.Season 6: Homeschool Planning
Some homeschool moms – maybe those with school-teacher backgrounds – have elaborate homeschool lesson plans – full sheets of papers full of ideas, notes, references, activities, and objectives.
Many homeschool moms have no lesson plans at all.
I have never been in that first category, but more often find myself in the latter. Even though I love planning, lesson plans seemed more like a waste of time than anything else.
The truth is that a plan does make a thing more likely to happen.
Read the original post: How to lesson plan so you’re never behind

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Clever Curriculum Connection
Now, Latin has been hit or miss, quite honestly, in our average days. Too often Latin is what gets bumped when life goes awry. With a DVD and workbook, it would be easy to have my boys simply go through the motions of progress of Latin on their own: They can watch the video, I can assign workbook pages, and that could be all. But that is really just a waste of everyone’s time. No language is going to be learned that way. It’s all going to go in one ear and out the other and never stick.
So, rather than simply move on through the curriculum so we can stay on schedule and cover a book a year, we have taken the next step as we can and tried to master the lesson before moving on. This means a slower pace, especially since Latin might only happen twice a week rather than every day. But I’m ok with slow progress, especially if not finishing a book a year means we’ve actually gained the ground we’re covering.
So it has taken us about two years per level in Latin for Children , which is written as a year-long curriculum. That’s ok. Some Latin is better than none. And learned Latin is better than skimmed Latin.
I’ve been less apt to ditch the Latin when feeling the squeeze this year, choosing to prioritize it over other things. Also, I am sleeping through the night and don’t have a baby – that means fewer lessons get skipped than used to be. Perhaps when my third and fourth child start Latin we will actually be able to do a level a year.
Perhaps they will teach it to their children and so actually get to the point of reading Latin. Perhaps my grandchildren will be able to teach my great-grandchildren Latin through speaking it and actually achieve the immersion approach. Taking the long view helps ease the pressure of “finishing up.” This is a generational journey, not simply a school-year journey. I am planting seeds and do not know what fruit will be reaped 10, 20, 30 years from now. I am content to be planting little seeds and watering them as best I can, even while wishing I were a harvester of ripe crops – that’s not my place in the story.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean11:1716182SO037: Evernote for Homemakinghttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so037/
Mon, 14 Aug 2017 10:18:47 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=30743<p>Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning Evernote is awesome. It is my digital filing cabinet. Instead of lugging around a heavy binder, or filing reams of paper, it all goes into Evernote. Not only does Evernote save my documents in an organized way, it even recognizes text – printed and handwritten – in images, pdfs, and scans saved there. This means I can search for documents when I need them instead of going through and looking in the right folder. … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so037/" aria-label="SO037: Evernote for Homemaking">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so037/">SO037: Evernote for Homemaking</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning Evernote is awesome. It is my digital filing cabinet. Instead of lugging around a heavy binder, or filing reams of paper, it all goes into Evernote. Not only does Evernote save my documents in an organized way,Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning
Evernote is awesome. It is my digital filing cabinet. Instead of lugging around a heavy binder, or filing reams of paper, it all goes into Evernote. Not only does Evernote save my documents in an organized way, it even recognizes text – printed and handwritten – in images, pdfs, and scans saved there. This means I can search for documents when I need them instead of going through and looking in the right folder. I can type “Costco receipt” and up comes all the Costco receipts I’ve saved, whether they’re in the same notebook or note.
With such quick retrieval, a huge database of saved records and notes is no longer daunting and useless to flip through.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:3930743SC036: Plan a Homeschool Dayhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc036/
Thu, 10 Aug 2017 15:04:14 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16175<p>Season 6: Homeschool Planning What, out of everything in the plan, is essential to make our homeschool day count? Because more often than not, at least at my house, the entire plan doesn’t get checked off. So what does need to happen, without fail? Here’s my version. 5 Essential Pieces of Our Homeschool Day Read the original post: 5 Essential Pieces of Our Homeschool Day Listen: Recommended: Clever Curriculum Connection: Latin So, I use a simple practice page for this … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc036/" aria-label="SC036: Plan a Homeschool Day">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc036/">SC036: Plan a Homeschool Day</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 6: Homeschool Planning What, out of everything in the plan, is essential to make our homeschool day count? Because more often than not, at least at my house, the entire plan doesn’t get checked off. So what does need to happen, without fail?Season 6: Homeschool Planning
What, out of everything in the plan, is essential to make our homeschool day count?
Because more often than not, at least at my house, the entire plan doesn’t get checked off. So what does need to happen, without fail? Here’s my version.
5 Essential Pieces of Our Homeschool Day
Read the original post: 5 Essential Pieces of Our Homeschool Day

Listen:
Recommended:

Clever Curriculum Connection: Latin
So, I use a simple practice page for this that I created not because there are not enough review materials in Latin for Children as it is, but because it simplified our review process. I pull sentences provided within the LFC workbook, but copy them onto these sheets for a few reasons:
*I’m not confident enough in my own Latin yet to compose my own Latin sentences.

* Those sentences were already composed to help the student review the lesson material.

* My boys’ handwriting doesn’t fit well in the space provided in the workbook a lot of the time. These workpages have much more blank space.

*
If I copy out the sentences, I can pull sentences from previous lessons. Chances are, they don’t remember the sentences they did last month anyway, and I can at least swap out a different verb with the same conjugation if I want to change it up. This allows us to get a lot more translation practice, which I consider the most valuable part of Latin, while still using the sentences written by the curriculum people (i.e. people who know what they’re doing).

*
Usually the workbook only requires parsing or translating, and rarely marking sentence parts. But if the boys already have to mark sentence parts, then they’re a step ahead when they have to parse. I want them to do all 3 steps as much as possible.

In helping my boys through these translation exercises over and over again, I have finally made it over my own Latin difficulties and see how the endings work, what they’re doing, and that they are communicating something. I have several key phrases I repeat each and every time as I help them over their own bumps and stalls:

* “What is the ending?”
* “What does that ending tell you?”
* “Is it a noun or a verb?”
* “What parts does a noun have?”
* “What parts does a verb have?”
* “What’s number mean? What are the two options?”
* “What’s missing in your translation?” (Usually it’s a capital letter and a period.)

The good news is that after about 100 repetitions of the same question, they actually do start to ask it themselves. Just when you think it will never happen, suddenly you hear one muttering the question under his breath to himself and then you know it was sinking in after all. Just don’t be surprised if it takes a solid year – or two.
It takes patience, certainly. So we are all being stretched and growing: they are learning discipline and I am learning patience – and we are all learning perseverance. Learning is often difficult, and that’s ok.
We used to only do two sentences in a sitting, because it stretched them so much. Now they can do four, and though some days are still tearful, by the time we’re done, we’ve pulled through and taste success.
Learning to read Latin might be an important classical aim, but even if we never do, learning Latin will have made us better people.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:5316175SO036: How to Get Information Into Evernotehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so036/
Mon, 07 Aug 2017 11:00:59 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=30459<p>Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning Because you asked… When you scan things to Evernote, is this time consuming? Do you scan it to a PDF file and attach the file? I’d be very curious as to what this process looks like for you. I tried with a manual the other day and it seemed to take forever, and I had to try several different ways to get it to work. It’s fast and easy, I promise! Read the original … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so036/" aria-label="SO036: How to Get Information Into Evernote">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so036/">SO036: How to Get Information Into Evernote</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning Because you asked… When you scan things to Evernote, is this time consuming? Do you scan it to a PDF file and attach the file? I’d be very curious as to what this process looks like for you.Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning
Because you asked…
When you scan things to Evernote, is this time consuming? Do you scan it to a PDF file and attach the file? I’d be very curious as to what this process looks like for you. I tried with a manual the other day and it seemed to take forever, and I had to try several different ways to get it to work.
It’s fast and easy, I promise!

More podcast goodness:]]>Mystie Winckler clean3:5530459SC035: 3 Tools for a Sane Homeschool Planhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc035/
Thu, 03 Aug 2017 21:28:21 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16166<p>Season 6: Homeschool Planning It’s one thing to buy the books and supples, to make a plan, to create a chart and quite another to actually pull it off in a typical day. Days never go exactly as imagined, but it’s worth the time to imagine it even so – and the more you practice imagining it and planning for contingencies before the heat of the moment, the better you’ll become and rolling with the punches of a real-life homeschool … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc035/" aria-label="SC035: 3 Tools for a Sane Homeschool Plan">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc035/">SC035: 3 Tools for a Sane Homeschool Plan</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 6: Homeschool Planning It’s one thing to buy the books and supples, to make a plan, to create a chart and quite another to actually pull it off in a typical day. Days never go exactly as imagined, but it’s worth the time to imagine it even so – ...Season 6: Homeschool Planning
It’s one thing to buy the books and supples, to make a plan, to create a chart and quite another to actually pull it off in a typical day.
Days never go exactly as imagined, but it’s worth the time to imagine it even so – and the more you practice imagining it and planning for contingencies before the heat of the moment, the better you’ll become and rolling with the punches of a real-life homeschool day in a household bustling with people.
Here are three tools I use to help me put together my homeschool day.
Read the original post: 3 tools for a sane homeschool day

Listen:
Recommended:

Clever Curriculum Connection
So, I use a simple practice page for this that I created not because there are not enough review materials in Latin for Children as it is, but because it simplified our review process. I pull sentences provided within the LFC workbook, but copy them onto these sheets for a few reasons:

* I’m not confident enough in my own Latin yet to compose my own Latin sentences.
* Those sentences were already composed to help the student review the lesson material.
* My boys’ handwriting doesn’t fit well in the space provided in the workbook a lot of the time. These workpages have much more blank space.
* If I copy out the sentences, I can pull sentences from previous lessons. Chances are, they don’t remember the sentences they did last month anyway, and I can at least swap out a different verb with the same conjugation if I want to change it up. This allows us to get a lot more translation practice, which I consider the most valuable part of Latin, while still using the sentences written by the curriculum people (i.e. people who know what they’re doing).
* Usually the workbook only requires parsing or translating, and rarely marking sentence parts. But if the boys already have to mark sentence parts, then they’re a step ahead when they have to parse. I want them to do all 3 steps as much as possible.

In helping my boys through these translation exercises over and over again, I have finally made it over my own Latin difficulties and see how the endings work, what they’re doing, and that they are communicating something. I have several key phrases I repeat each and every time as I help them over their own bumps and stalls:

* “What is the ending?”
* “What does that ending tell you?”
* “Is it a noun or a verb?”
* “What parts does a noun have?”
* “What parts does a verb have?”
* “What’s number mean? What are the two options?”
* “What’s missing in your translation?” (Usually it’s a capital letter and a period.)

The good news is that after about 100 repetitions of the same question, they actually do start to ask it themselves. Just when you think it will never happen, suddenly you hear one muttering the question under his breath to himself and then you know it was sinking in after all. Just don’t be surprised if it takes a solid year – or two.
It takes patience, certainly. So we are all being stretched and growing: they are learning discipline and I am learning patience – and we are all learning perseverance. Learning is often difficult, and that’s ok.
We used to only do two sentences in a sitting, because it stretched them so much. Now they can do four, and though some days are still tearful, by the time we’re done, we’ve pulled through and taste success.
Learning to read Latin might be an important classical aim, but even if we never do, learning Latin will have made us better people.

Spread the word!clean10:0416166SO035: How to Organize Evernotehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so035/
Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:27:05 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=30314<p>Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning Evernote is simply my external brain. Everyone should have an external brain of one sort or another, and Evernote is mine. I keep everything corralled into one of nine stacks. These stacks are named after my vocations. Developing your own vocation categories and goals is part of Simplified Organization: Learning to Love What Must Be Done, so I won’t go into that here. The stacks are numbered so that they are ordered in the … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so035/" aria-label="SO035: How to Organize Evernote">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so035/">SO035: How to Organize Evernote</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning Evernote is simply my external brain. Everyone should have an external brain of one sort or another, and Evernote is mine. I keep everything corralled into one of nine stacks.Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning
Evernote is simply my external brain. Everyone should have an external brain of one sort or another, and Evernote is mine.
I keep everything corralled into one of nine stacks. These stacks are named after my vocations. Developing your own vocation categories and goals is part of Simplified Organization: Learning to Love What Must Be Done, so I won’t go into that here.
The stacks are numbered so that they are ordered in the order I want them in and not alphabetically by their names. The “Records” and “Reference” stacks are like long-term archives – information goes in there when it’s no longer current, but I’m probably not going to need it unless I need to know something about what happened years ago.

More podcast goodness:]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:0730314SC034: Secrets about Scheduleshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc034/
Thu, 27 Jul 2017 11:35:25 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16148<p>Season 6: Homeschool Planning Does the word schedule make you break out in hives? Do you picture yourself harried and deflated at the end of a day on a schedule? Maybe for you, like me, that’s a vivid memory, not a theoretical picture. There’s a lot of visceral reaction against schedules in the homeschool world, and I totally get why. I mean, can I schedule diaper blowouts and my doorbell ringing and the toddler pulling an open bag of powdered … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc034/" aria-label="SC034: Secrets about Schedules">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc034/">SC034: Secrets about Schedules</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 6: Homeschool Planning Does the word schedule make you break out in hives? Do you picture yourself harried and deflated at the end of a day on a schedule? Maybe for you, like me, that’s a vivid memory, not a theoretical picture.Season 6: Homeschool Planning
Does the word schedule make you break out in hives? Do you picture yourself harried and deflated at the end of a day on a schedule? Maybe for you, like me, that’s a vivid memory, not a theoretical picture.
There’s a lot of visceral reaction against schedules in the homeschool world, and I totally get why. I mean, can I schedule diaper blowouts and my doorbell ringing and the toddler pulling an open bag of powdered sugar onto herself? Where does that go in the schedule?

If there’s one thing that trying to live by a schedule teaches us right off the bat, it’s that we are not actually in control.
Read the original post: Three Secrets about Schedules

Listen:
Recommended:

Clever Curriculum Connection: Latin
When we read Latin together once a week, the child can choose a selection from our collection:

* Winnie Ille Pu
* LFC History Readers
* Fabulae Mirabiles

They only read aloud and orally translate (and we use an online Latin dictionary to help) about 3 sentences at a time and we stick with one story until we’ve read it all.
It’s hard, but we do it together, and I’ve found this addition has actually helped both my boys enjoy learning Latin more. Perhaps it makes it seem worthwhile instead of merely an exercise in abstraction. It’s decoding, and what boy doesn’t like a code that tells a message when you work it out?
I have been surprised how much just finding the right weekly rhythm has helped make Latin happen consistently and with less resistance. I am always afraid I’m over-tweaking and making changes just out of discontent and for fun, but then I stumble upon a logistics tweak like this that makes it easier to be consistent and I find it all worth it!
Now I just need to leave the Latin routine alone and adjust something else, like the logistics of mopping the floor.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean13:1416148SO034: Digital Menu Planninghttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so034/
Mon, 24 Jul 2017 11:00:28 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=29311<p>Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning I am all about the tips and tricks to minimize the time and brain-power we pour into menu planning. It’s something we need to do, something we need to become consistent with, but it doesn’t have to drain us or take an entire Saturday morning. We can streamline things and make it simpler. One tool I use to streamline a lot in my life is Evernote. I heart Evernote. Here’s how it helps my … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so034/" aria-label="SO034: Digital Menu Planning">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so034/">SO034: Digital Menu Planning</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning I am all about the tips and tricks to minimize the time and brain-power we pour into menu planning. It’s something we need to do, something we need to become consistent with,Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning
I am all about the tips and tricks to minimize the time and brain-power we pour into menu planning. It’s something we need to do, something we need to become consistent with, but it doesn’t have to drain us or take an entire Saturday morning.
We can streamline things and make it simpler. One tool I use to streamline a lot in my life is Evernote.
I heart Evernote.
Here’s how it helps my menu planning routine.

More podcast goodness:]]>Mystie Winckler clean4:2429311SC033: Why make plans?https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc033/
Thu, 20 Jul 2017 13:56:09 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16124<p>Season 6: Homeschool Planning We might think that making a plan and working a plan is all about the planner, the app, the method, but the truth is that how we think about our planning going into it matters tremendously. I remember very vividly being struck by a line of poetry by T.S. Eliot once quoted by Cindy Rollins: What I really, really wanted was a system so perfect that I wouldn’t have to expend any effort at all, I … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc033/" aria-label="SC033: Why make plans?">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc033/">SC033: Why make plans?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 6: Homeschool Planning We might think that making a plan and working a plan is all about the planner, the app, the method, but the truth is that how we think about our planning going into it matters tremendously.Season 6: Homeschool Planning
We might think that making a plan and working a plan is all about the planner, the app, the method, but the truth is that how we think about our planning going into it matters tremendously.
I remember very vividly being struck by a line of poetry by T.S. Eliot once quoted by Cindy Rollins:
What I really, really wanted was a system so perfect that I wouldn’t have to expend any effort at all, I could just hum along doing whatever I wanted and everything would just work out.
Turns out life doesn’t work that way.
Read the original post: Why do we make plans when they rarely work out?

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Clever Curriculum Connection: Latin
Being consistent with Latin over the years has been a struggle – one I have not always won. My oldest began Latin for Children Primer A when he was 8 – four years ago – and he’s now 3/4 of the way through Latin for Children Primer B.
I’m sure glad Dr. Perrin’s favorite motto is festina lente.
In my years of Latin inconsistency, we’ve had to continue to go backward before moving forward, reviewing vocab again, reviewing grammar again, because you can’t build on a foundation that isn’t there. In the end, I think this will actually help their forward progress in Latin, because we ended up not moving forward until concepts clicked rather than getting into a groove and simply moving on when they could give the right answer without understanding. Just as students should be drilled in their math facts until they are second nature – and this might take the entirety of their elementary education – so we keep revisiting what case means, what conjugating means, what declining means, not to mention how to do so.
This year consistency is possible for us, and I spent the first two terms of school focusing on getting our Latin consistent and solid and prioritized. I went through many iterations of weekly Latin assignments before I found one that flowed and worked for us.

I’m not sure this will work for you, but I offer it as a starting place. It’s much more feasible and realistic for a homeschool setting than the schedule offered in the book, I believe. It makes about half the Latin work independent work, which frees me up. This is the routine I use for both my boys, so it works with Latin for Children Primer A and Primer B.
Our Weekly Latin Assignments

* Daily: We listen to one Latin chant track from both Primer A & B most Morning Times for chant & vocab review
* Day 1: Watch a Latin lesson from the DVD, complete the Latin worksheet for that lesson
* Day 2: Practice reading & oral translation with mom, complete the lesson’s derivatives worksheet in the workbook
* Day 3: Fill out a conjugation practice worksheet (homemade), copy the lesson’s vocab into a Latin copywork spiral notebook.
* Day 4: Complete the lesson’s quiz in the workbook, write 2 original Latin sentences that contain at least one word from this lesson’s vocab (Mom has to conjugate & translate them)
* Day 5: Latin translation page (homemade, with sentences from the chapter)

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean8:0116124SO033: Evernote for Daily To-Do Listshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so033/
Mon, 17 Jul 2017 11:00:41 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=28875<p>Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning I’ve written before about the benefits of writing a daily to do list on an index card, but for several months I’ve experimented with using Evernote for my task list instead of a daily index card – just to see how going all digital would work out for me. I have gone back to writing out a short daily to-do note, but I learned a lot from my little experiment. Using Evernote for a … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so033/" aria-label="SO033: Evernote for Daily To-Do Lists">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so033/">SO033: Evernote for Daily To-Do Lists</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning I’ve written before about the benefits of writing a daily to do list on an index card, but for several months I’ve experimented with using Evernote for my task list instead of a daily index card – just to see how...Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning
I’ve written before about the benefits of writing a daily to do list on an index card, but for several months I’ve experimented with using Evernote for my task list instead of a daily index card – just to see how going all digital would work out for me.
I have gone back to writing out a short daily to-do note, but I learned a lot from my little experiment. Using Evernote for a daily to-do list and journal is definitely a viable option with several benefits.

More podcast goodness:]]>Mystie Winckler clean6:1828875SC032: Planning for Real Lifehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc032/
Thu, 13 Jul 2017 04:36:31 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=16066<p>Season 6: Homeschool Planning I love new year goals and resolutions, but they can lead to discouragement unnecessarily. Sometimes we conclude that because we can never reach and maintain our ideal, then it is the ideal bringing us down. We’re tempted to stop trying to clean the house, organize the toys, lose the weight, balance the budget, or train the children because we never reach our desired (usually unrealistic) goal, or if we do, it doesn’t last long. However, the … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc032/" aria-label="SC032: Planning for Real Life">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc032/">SC032: Planning for Real Life</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 6: Homeschool Planning I love new year goals and resolutions, but they can lead to discouragement unnecessarily. Sometimes we conclude that because we can never reach and maintain our ideal, then it is the ideal bringing us down.Season 6: Homeschool Planning
I love new year goals and resolutions, but they can lead to discouragement unnecessarily.
Sometimes we conclude that because we can never reach and maintain our ideal, then it is the ideal bringing us down. We’re tempted to stop trying to clean the house, organize the toys, lose the weight, balance the budget, or train the children because we never reach our desired (usually unrealistic) goal, or if we do, it doesn’t last long. However, the primary problem is our own paradigm, not our goal.
Focus on habit-building rather than goal-reaching, and your abilities to reach goals will be dramatically increased as a side benefit.
Read the original post: Planning for Real Life

Listen:
Recommended:Plan Your Year Planning Kit will not only give you the beautiful forms you need to make a complete plan, it will walk you through each step of the way, clearly and succinctly. I highly recommend it.

Clever Curriculum Connection: Latin
Because we are following the classical model of education in our homeschool, we have added Latin to our average days. I have zero background in Latin and only 2 barely-passed years of Spanish under my belt. Yet, I agreed with the principles of classical education so much that I decided we’d take the practice of Latin on trust and see what happened.
There are generally three reasons given for studying Latin:

* It helps with vocabulary and thus with high test scores.
* It helps with logical thinking, because it’s grammar study that actually makes sense.
* It is the language of Virgil and much of the literature of Christendom, which we should be trying to read in the original.

When my son was 9 and had just taken his state-mandated standardized test, he asked me afterward, “Mom, what does donor mean?” “A donor is someone who gives something,” I replied. “That’s what I guessed!” he exclaimed, “because dono means I give.” That vocabulary word had been in a Latin lesson from the previous year. There is certainly something to the first reason for choosing Latin, but I hate to let state-mandated tests determine my curriculum choices.
No, it is option 2 that got me on board with Latin and keeps bringing me back to it every time we have fallen off the boat. I love grammar, and I know how much my smattering of Spanish helped with my understanding of grammar. I am also an Elizabethan history buff and I knew that simply translating Latin into English and English into Latin constituted a large part of Queen Elizabeth I’s education – and that seemed to turn out pretty well. So, we take a grammar-heavy approach to Latin rather than an immersion approach, which would be nearly impossible for us anyway.
But grammar, grammar I can do.Find out more about how we homeschool Latin.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean8:3816066SO032: Evernote for Home Routineshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so032/
Mon, 10 Jul 2017 10:02:15 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=28495<p>Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning There is so much to keep track of at home. Where is the best place to keep track of daily and weekly routines? If you’re a paper planner, you might have a separate page in your planner, you might have your own weekly list you print, you might keep a list behind a page protector and reuse it or on a whiteboard where everyone can see it. But what if you’d rather not deal … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so032/" aria-label="SO032: Evernote for Home Routines">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so032/">SO032: Evernote for Home Routines</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning There is so much to keep track of at home. Where is the best place to keep track of daily and weekly routines? If you’re a paper planner, you might have a separate page in your planner,Season 6: Evernote for Digital Planning
There is so much to keep track of at home.
Where is the best place to keep track of daily and weekly routines?
If you’re a paper planner, you might have a separate page in your planner, you might have your own weekly list you print, you might keep a list behind a page protector and reuse it or on a whiteboard where everyone can see it.
But what if you’d rather not deal with paper? What if you prefer glancing at the screen in your pocket to look at your list? What if you don’t like the visual clutter often attendant with paper?
Evernote is the answer, of course.

More podcast goodness:]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:3728495SC031: Convivial Means Lifehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc031/
Thu, 25 May 2017 10:59:42 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15569<p>Season 5: Why Convivial? What sort of elderly person will I be? Of course a large part of the situation will depend on circumstances and what my particular physical or mental ailments will end up being. But what of the different temperaments? Will I be a sweet old lady, grateful and encouraging up to her dying day? Or will I be a fault-finding, cranky old lady? When whatever my infirmities will be come upon me — no matter the age … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc031/" aria-label="SC031: Convivial Means Life">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc031/">SC031: Convivial Means Life</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 5: Why Convivial? What sort of elderly person will I be? Of course a large part of the situation will depend on circumstances and what my particular physical or mental ailments will end up being. But what of the different temperaments?Season 5: Why Convivial?
What sort of elderly person will I be? Of course a large part of the situation will depend on circumstances and what my particular physical or mental ailments will end up being. But what of the different temperaments? Will I be a sweet old lady, grateful and encouraging up to her dying day? Or will I be a fault-finding, cranky old lady?
When whatever my infirmities will be come upon me — no matter the age at which it happens — what will it do to me? Can hard circumstances turn you into someone you were not? Or do they reveal who you actually were by removing your defenses?
Affliction will come, sooner or later, and what will it show? If how I respond then will be simply a magnification of how I respond now to minor irritations and inconveniences, then I doubt I’ll be a sweet old lady.
What story do I want told at my funeral?
Whatever it is, now is the time to start living it.
Read the original post:Convivial Home: Now & Later

Recommended Reading:

Simple Sanity Saver: Homeschool Checklists for Kids
So, you’ve decided to create a homeschool checklist for your kids. Now what?
There are lots of ways to make a checklist and keep a checklist.
Using a spiral notebook for a daily list is a popular option.
Creating a weekly template you can print also works well.
Or, you might even use an app like Asana or Trello or use your weekly template digitally on Google Drive or in Evernote.
The important thing to do is to find the workflow that smoothes the way the most. Your checklist system should appeal to you and to your kids, so it’s not a headache to check. It should include all the items your kids are responsible to complete – for example, ours includes their morning chores. And it should be clear to everyone how to use it.
Spread the word!

Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:1315569SO031: Gratitude Makes You Productivehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so031/
Mon, 22 May 2017 11:02:40 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=22429<p>Season 5: Attitude Organization Why do we do what we do? Sometimes, an end result can look the same even when the motivations behind the action are opposite. The exact same action and the exact same result could be caused by a completely different heart. Your heart matters. Recommended Reading: Read the original post here: Gratitude will make you more productive</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so031/">SO031: Gratitude Makes You Productive</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 5: Attitude Organization Why do we do what we do? Sometimes, an end result can look the same even when the motivations behind the action are opposite. The exact same action and the exact same result could be caused by a completely different hear...Season 5: Attitude Organization
Why do we do what we do?
Sometimes, an end result can look the same even when the motivations behind the action are opposite.
The exact same action and the exact same result could be caused by a completely different heart.
Your heart matters.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:2722429SC030: Convivial Means Keeping in Fellowshiphttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc030/
Thu, 18 May 2017 11:59:37 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15568<p>Season 5: Why Convivial? Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Keeping short accounts leaves no room for resentment, no room for bitterness. It also means that even in the midst of argument, I am more careful in how I express myself, or where I let myself go — better to not sin in the first place than have to ask for forgiveness and make … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc030/" aria-label="SC030: Convivial Means Keeping in Fellowship">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc030/">SC030: Convivial Means Keeping in Fellowship</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 5: Why Convivial? Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Keeping short accounts leaves no room for resentment, no room for bitterness.Season 5: Why Convivial?

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Keeping short accounts leaves no room for resentment, no room for bitterness. It also means that even in the midst of argument, I am more careful in how I express myself, or where I let myself go — better to not sin in the first place than have to ask for forgiveness and make it whole and right again. It also means I can express myself openly and honestly and have confidence that we are both striving to reach unity and oneness, and in the ways we fail on our way there, restoration will be sought.
We all fall short; we all need short accounts kept for us.
Read the original post:Making a Convivial Home: Unrelenting Fellowship

Recommended Reading:

Simple Sanity Saver: Homeschool Checklists for Kids
Encouraging ownership & independence with our kids often feels like a mysterious process and we don’t know how to go about it. We hope it just happens with age and maturity, but it doesn’t – it’s not a given. It’s a character trait that’s developed over time, but it won’t develop without practice. A checklist is a means of practice – and skills come after a period of deliberate, consistent practice.
If you want your child to grow in independence with his schoolwork, start with a checklist and a daily meeting – one to start the day and one to make sure it’s done. When he wanders off, redirect back to the checklist. When he asks you what’s next, redirect back to the checklist. Make free time or a hobby pursuit contingent upon checklist completion – then he becomes master of his time. The amount of free time will be directly dependent upon his use of his time. There will be hard life lessons along that line, but holding the line and showing him that he has some control over his day will, in the end, grow responsibility and maturity.
Independence only comes along with responsibility and maturity. Focus on responsibility and maturity, and independence comes as a bonus – for you both.
Along those lines, keep in mind that independence will start developing in the double-digits. You might give your seven or nine year old a checklist – I do – but they are in the hand-holding phase. I don’t expect them to work independently with that checklist; they are only learning, by my pointing referring back to it with them, where to go to find what needs to be done next and what “done” looks like. Baby step elementary kids into responsibility with a checklist, but don’t expect it to bloom until middle school – and trying to force the bloom will not result in a healthy plant.
Remember, if we want them to be responsible, so must we be.
]]>Mystie Wincklerclean8:2715568SO030: Frustrated No Longerhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so030/
Mon, 15 May 2017 11:40:35 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=22428<p>Season 5: Attitude Organization I set the timer for fifteen minutes. Surely in fifteen minutes, I thought, I can make a difference in this room. The room was mine. The mess was an assortment of laundry, books, accumulated junk, out-of-season kids’ clothes, and random bits. I knew there was no way I was going to finish cleaning the room in fifteen minutes, or even that day, but I had to make a start. Starting is the hardest part. Recommended Reading: … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so030/" aria-label="SO030: Frustrated No Longer">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so030/">SO030: Frustrated No Longer</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 5: Attitude Organization I set the timer for fifteen minutes. Surely in fifteen minutes, I thought, I can make a difference in this room. The room was mine. The mess was an assortment of laundry, books, accumulated junk,Season 5: Attitude Organization
I set the timer for fifteen minutes.
Surely in fifteen minutes, I thought, I can make a difference in this room.
The room was mine. The mess was an assortment of laundry, books, accumulated junk, out-of-season kids’ clothes, and random bits.
I knew there was no way I was going to finish cleaning the room in fifteen minutes, or even that day, but I had to make a start.
Starting is the hardest part.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:0722428SC029: Convivial Means Obediencehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc029/
Thu, 11 May 2017 05:11:50 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15567<p>Season 5: Why Convivial? When the Bible says things like “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” God means it. It’s true. It’s what we are to strive to attain, and what we need to confess when we fall short. There are no excuses, only repentance. There are times it’s more difficult, for sure, but then … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc029/" aria-label="SC029: Convivial Means Obedience">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc029/">SC029: Convivial Means Obedience</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 5: Why Convivial? When the Bible says things like “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” God means it. It’s true.Season 5: Why Convivial?
When the Bible says things like “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
God means it. It’s true. It’s what we are to strive to attain, and what we need to confess when we fall short.
There are no excuses, only repentance. There are times it’s more difficult, for sure, but then again, God’s promises are there for us:

“[God’s] grace is made perfect in weakness.” and “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

The dare to not speak anything that isn’t for edification? It’s from God.
Read the original post:Convivial Home: The Dare

Recommended Reading:

Simple Sanity Saver: Homeschool Checklists for Kids
Checklist tasks can’t be vague, especially for kids. So often, we know what we mean when we write “practice piano” or “complete math page” – but what exactly must be done before it can be checked off turns out to be a more of a mystery to the kids than reasonable.
The more clear and specific you can be on the checklists, the better. Don’t use shorthand or vague tasks unless you are also prepared to follow them up before and after with clear guidance daily – and doesn’t that partially negate the benefit of giving them checklists in the first place?
Before hand a checklist to a child, make sure and go over everything with them and clarify and ask for questions. Then do watch and clarify the first week and periodically after that. What you thought was clear might not be for your kids. Or, they might have strong differing opinions about what done looks like, or they might love to negotiate and think everything is always up for debate. Be aware of those tendencies in your kids and follow up more often with them. Some kids will take that checklist and follow it to a tee – but those types are rarer than the others.
Check out my free reference with 5 tips for using checklists in your homeschool below, but you might also want to check out the personality resources that I have to determine what approach will best help you with each of your children.
Spread the word!

Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!]]>Mystie Wincklerclean9:1115567SO029: Realistic Expectationshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so029/
Tue, 09 May 2017 00:37:04 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=22427<p>Season 5: Attitude Organization What happens when we organize something? It gets messed up. Inevitably. We catch up on the laundry, but more clothes hit the hamper within hours. We wash the dishes and clear the counters, then dinner is over and the kitchen is in ruins, with stacks of dirty dishes. We put the kids’ closets in order, but by the end of the week the neat stacks are in shambles. We put our own closets in order, but … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so029/" aria-label="SO029: Realistic Expectations">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so029/">SO029: Realistic Expectations</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 5: Attitude Organization What happens when we organize something? It gets messed up. Inevitably. We catch up on the laundry, but more clothes hit the hamper within hours. We wash the dishes and clear the counters,Season 5: Attitude Organization
What happens when we organize something?
It gets messed up. Inevitably.
We catch up on the laundry, but more clothes hit the hamper within hours.
We wash the dishes and clear the counters, then dinner is over and the kitchen is in ruins, with stacks of dirty dishes.
We put the kids’ closets in order, but by the end of the week the neat stacks are in shambles.
We put our own closets in order, but then comes a busy day, and it all falls apart.
We clean out the fridge, and then the next day a big spill happens.
It is so tempting to think that our work is undone, a waste of our time, useless, futile.
But it isn’t. I promise.
Our work isn’t meant to accomplish a static state. Our work is ongoing maintenance, regular service.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:1622427SC028: Convivial Means Choosing Your Attitudehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc028-convivial-means-choosing-attitude/
Thu, 04 May 2017 14:50:20 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15549<p>Season 5: Why Convivial? I don’t feel guilty for not doing the things that I have to do, I feel persecuted that I have things to do. The pesky homekeeping tasks should just all evaporate and leave me be, leave me to do whatever I want, whatever I feel like, all day. Stupid housework. Down with housework! Up with play! Housework is boring. How can I harp on my kids when I do the same thing with my own work? … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc028-convivial-means-choosing-attitude/" aria-label="SC028: Convivial Means Choosing Your Attitude">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc028-convivial-means-choosing-attitude/">SC028: Convivial Means Choosing Your Attitude</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 5: Why Convivial? I don’t feel guilty for not doing the things that I have to do, I feel persecuted that I have things to do. The pesky homekeeping tasks should just all evaporate and leave me be, leave me to do whatever I want,Season 5: Why Convivial?
I don’t feel guilty for not doing the things that I have to do, I feel persecuted that I have things to do.
The pesky homekeeping tasks should just all evaporate and leave me be, leave me to do whatever I want, whatever I feel like, all day. Stupid housework. Down with housework! Up with play! Housework is boring.
How can I harp on my kids when I do the same thing with my own work?
Read the original post:Choosing Conviviality or Perpetuating a Pity Party?

Recommended Reading:

Simple Sanity Saver: Homeschool Checklists for Kids
You need to check your kids’ checklists.
Bad News: Not only will the checklists not magically make your kids independent, but you still need to check not only their work, but also their checklists.
Don’t expect what you don’t inspect.
It’s alarming, but true.
I go through this cycle myself, even though I know better. First, I’m on top of it, checking the kids’ work as well as their checklists. Then, they get used to the work and we seem to be doing quite well. So, I stop checking regularly. Then I stop checking at all. After awhile, I get suspicious and look into those checklists and realize – things have been checked off without being done, things that were done aren’t checked off, and the kids’ definition of “done” and my definition of “done” are not matching up.
Sure, the kids should know better, but so should I. As the mom and the teacher and the administrator, checking up and monitoring is my job – when I have to turn that cycle back to the beginning again, I am the one who apologizes, while making sure the backlog of work is done.
After all we can’t expect the kids to become responsible if we do not show them what taking responsibility and being the one responsible looks like.
Spread the word!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:4915549SO028: How to Organize Your Attitudehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so028/
Mon, 01 May 2017 14:00:16 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=22292<p>Season 5: Attitude Organization My new tagline is “organize your attitude,” because I think our own mindset as moms is crucial in our homes. Charlotte Mason said that fully 1/3 of our children’s curriculum is atmosphere, and though candles and art on the wall are nice touches, I believe that it is our own attitudes as we go about our business that creates the atmosphere our kids grow up in. Mom sets the tone, whether we like it or not. … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so028/" aria-label="SO028: How to Organize Your Attitude">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so028/">SO028: How to Organize Your Attitude</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 5: Attitude Organization My new tagline is “organize your attitude,” because I think our own mindset as moms is crucial in our homes. Charlotte Mason said that fully 1/3 of our children’s curriculum is atmosphere,Season 5: Attitude Organization
My new tagline is “organize your attitude,” because I think our own mindset as moms is crucial in our homes.
Charlotte Mason said that fully 1/3 of our children’s curriculum is atmosphere, and though candles and art on the wall are nice touches, I believe that it is our own attitudes as we go about our business that creates the atmosphere our kids grow up in. Mom sets the tone, whether we like it or not.
We must organize our attitudes, for our children’s sakes.
Here’s how.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:0122292SC027: Convivial Means Lighten Uphttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc027-convivial-means-lighten/
Thu, 27 Apr 2017 16:54:02 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15518<p>Season 5: Why Convivial? Sometimes “purposeful” and “intentional” can turn into “taking oneself too seriously.” Anything that doesn’t go as planned (and isn’t that usually most things?) is a temptation to discouragement or at least to the laser-eye of analysis. Instead, it might just be a reminder that God is in charge and we are not, and we need to be willing to laugh at ourselves. To create a convivial home, we must lighten up. Read the original post: Making … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc027-convivial-means-lighten/" aria-label="SC027: Convivial Means Lighten Up">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc027-convivial-means-lighten/">SC027: Convivial Means Lighten Up</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 5: Why Convivial? Sometimes “purposeful” and “intentional” can turn into “taking oneself too seriously.” Anything that doesn’t go as planned (and isn’t that usually most things?) is a temptation to discouragement or at least to the laser-eye of ...Season 5: Why Convivial?
Sometimes “purposeful” and “intentional” can turn into “taking oneself too seriously.” Anything that doesn’t go as planned (and isn’t that usually most things?) is a temptation to discouragement or at least to the laser-eye of analysis. Instead, it might just be a reminder that God is in charge and we are not, and we need to be willing to laugh at ourselves.
To create a convivial home, we must lighten up.
Read the original post:Making a Convivial Home: Lighten Up

Recommended Reading:

Simple Sanity Saver: Homeschool Checklists for Kids
Reality check: Checklists don’t magically make kids independent. Becoming independent takes time and training, for some more than others – it’s a personality thing.
But even though giving your kids a checklist doesn’t turn them into independent learners overnight, it does start the process and it does empower them to take ownership, gradually, of their work.
Instead of being the source of all answers, including “What’s next?”, you are the guide, pointing them back to the source. If they ask a question about history, you point them to the encyclopedia or their timeline. If they ask a question about grammar or math, you look it up in the teacher manual. Just so, with checklists, you walk them over to the list and talk over what it tells you both – what is next? Let’s choose something.
One way this saves your sanity is that you get to stop being Mommy-Bossy-Pants, controlling and micromanaging every detail. A student checklist allows you to offload some of that authoritarian tone to the impersonal paper. You’re less of the bad guy and more of the help alongside.
Sure, you made the list, but once it’s outside your head and on paper in front of you together, it’s something you’re tackling together instead of something you’re pulling off the top of your head and insisting on.
If you feel like you’re pulling teeth and dragging everyone along all day long, try independent work checklists – not so much because they’ll suddenly be independent, but because it changes the relational dynamic of the school day.
Spread the word!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean8:3715518SO027: Dreaming of Perfect Systemshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so027/
Mon, 24 Apr 2017 11:07:10 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=22085<p>Season 5: Attitude Organization I do not have a system that will make life easy, because that’s not the goal in life. God’s goal for our lives is our sanctification. That’s not an easy road. But it is a good one. And if our eyes and our aims are fixed on growth rather than checkmarks, on building rather than on success, then our attitudes will be aligned with reality, the reality that God doesn’t let us control our outcomes. But … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so027/" aria-label="SO027: Dreaming of Perfect Systems">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so027/">SO027: Dreaming of Perfect Systems</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 5: Attitude Organization I do not have a system that will make life easy, because that’s not the goal in life. God’s goal for our lives is our sanctification. That’s not an easy road. But it is a good one.Season 5: Attitude Organization
I do not have a system that will make life easy, because that’s not the goal in life.
God’s goal for our lives is our sanctification. That’s not an easy road. But it is a good one. And if our eyes and our aims are fixed on growth rather than checkmarks, on building rather than on success, then our attitudes will be aligned with reality, the reality that God doesn’t let us control our outcomes. But He does call us to faithful obedience and stewardship.
Therefore, our purpose in learning to make better plans and work them out more effectively is to serve well, not to prove ourselves.
The reason we care about planning at all is that we want to fulfill the responsibilities God has given us. We want to be ready and willing to meet the good works God has laid out for us to do, and then, as Paul writes, do so more and more.
We really must begin with organizing our attitude before we organize anything else.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:1722085SC026: Convivial Means Enjoymenthttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc026/
Thu, 20 Apr 2017 11:00:36 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15490<p>Season 5: Why Convivial? I wanted answers, a formula, a guarantee. Do this. That works. This will guarantee results. I thought it was a dichotomy. Either what I do as a parent will guarantee certain results or how I parent doesn’t matter, is inconsequential. It was either find the Right Answers or give up. The answer I got instead was, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto thee.” But what does this … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc026/" aria-label="SC026: Convivial Means Enjoyment">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc026/">SC026: Convivial Means Enjoyment</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 5: Why Convivial? I wanted answers, a formula, a guarantee. Do this. That works. This will guarantee results. I thought it was a dichotomy. Either what I do as a parent will guarantee certain results or how I parent doesn’t matter,Season 5: Why Convivial?
I wanted answers, a formula, a guarantee. Do this. That works. This will guarantee results. I thought it was a dichotomy. Either what I do as a parent will guarantee certain results or how I parent doesn’t matter, is inconsequential. It was either find the Right Answers or give up.
The answer I got instead was, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto thee.” But what does this mean? What does it look like? It means God’s providence in our stories — ours and our children’s — doesn’t always (usually does’t?) end up neat and tidy. It means He doesn’t guarantee things like early marriage, good kids, or good jobs. But He does guarantee sanctification. He guarantees His faithfulness and love and mercy and forgiveness. He promises to use means, to use us, to bless others, including our children. We should parent in reliance and in faithfulness to God’s call on our lives, being as consistent as we can with His model of Fatherhood, praying to be a blessing to our children, who are individuals under God’s care in their own right and not through us. God will use our children to sanctify us, and God will use us in the sanctification of our children. But it is God’s work and not our own.
We can be free to enjoy our children and our life when our trust is placed in God’s faithfulness rather than our own.
Read the original post:A Convivial Home: Enjoying Life, Children, and God

Recommended Reading:

Simple Sanity Saver: Homeschool Checklists for Kids
You should give your kids a checklist.
Why? Because it reduces decision-fatigue. Not only have you already decided what each child should do, but they pester you for the next task – or wander off aimlessly because you aren’t next to them – less often. A checklist reduces the number of times the children come and ask, “What’s next?” Even if you know, being asked 217 times a day is exhausting in and of itself.
With a checklist they can use, you will only be asked about 178 times, but you’ll have 1 answer: What’s left on your list?
Redirecting them to consult their list trains the habit and discipline of independent work, even though it takes years – yes, years – of pointing them back to it.
Even if they still ask you questions, you have a single, go-to answer, so your sanity is saved for other minor daily crises.
Spread the word!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:0615490SO026: Learn to Love What Must Be Donehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so026/
Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:00:34 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=19735<p>Season 5: Attitude Organization Many of us are task-driven. We want to see things done, accomplished, finished. This is what the world tells us is productivity. However, our life at home is not the kind of world where things are often finished. You might check off “laundry” for the day, but before the day is out, there will be more dirty laundry in the hamper. You might check off “make dinner,” but dinner will have to be made again tomorrow. … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so026/" aria-label="SO026: Learn to Love What Must Be Done">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so026/">SO026: Learn to Love What Must Be Done</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 5: Attitude Organization Many of us are task-driven. We want to see things done, accomplished, finished. This is what the world tells us is productivity. However, our life at home is not the kind of world where things are often finished.Many of us are task-driven. We want to see things done, accomplished, finished. This is what the world tells us is productivity.<br />
<br />
However, our life at home is not the kind of world where things are often finished. You might check off “laundry” for the day, but before the day is out, there will be more dirty laundry in the hamper. You might check off “make dinner,” but dinner will have to be made again tomorrow. Not only that, but because you made dinner today, there are now dishes in the sink to wash.<br />
<br />
Perhaps there is actually glory in repetition, if we had the eyes to see it.<br />
<br />
Get the attitude organization freebie at <a href="http://www.simplifiedorganization.com/2017/so025">Simplified Organization</a>Mystie Wincklerclean5:3519735SC025: Classical Homeschooling in Our Homehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc025/
Thu, 30 Mar 2017 11:00:56 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15404<p>Season 4: Classical Education Basics I like to talk about education philosophy and principles much more than methods, though I do have a soft spot for practical tips. However, unless we are grounded in our principles, we will be tossed to and fro by all the practical tips out there. Over the last year, I’ve written about classical education principles and how they affect not only our curriculum and our teaching, but also how we as mothers live out our … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc025/" aria-label="SC025: Classical Homeschooling in Our Home">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc025/">SC025: Classical Homeschooling in Our Home</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 4: Classical Education Basics I like to talk about education philosophy and principles much more than methods, though I do have a soft spot for practical tips. However, unless we are grounded in our principles,Season 4: Classical Education Basics
I like to talk about education philosophy and principles much more than methods, though I do have a soft spot for practical tips. However, unless we are grounded in our principles, we will be tossed to and fro by all the practical tips out there.
Over the last year, I’ve written about classical education principles and how they affect not only our curriculum and our teaching, but also how we as mothers live out our lives in our homes with our families. Because principles don’t just shape how we school. They shape how we live.
What your homeschool looks like, even as you try working toward classical education principles, depends on where you’ve been, and how and when you entered this path.
Read the original posts: Why Are Classical Education Principles Important? and Classical Homeschooling in Our Home

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Recommended Books:

Simple Sanity Saver: Morning Attitude Alignment Sheet
If we strategize ways to jump-start our days, to pull ourselves out of our whining heads, and to just get started – and then do them – we’ll find we aren’t as lazy as we feared. We can consistently show up and do the work, and even consistently be excited about it.
We simply have to turn our attention away from our in-the-moment desires and set our minds actively on what really, eternally matters. Then act on those truths.
Using the morning attitude alignment sheet will help you do just that. By repeating to ourselves our priorities and vision, we can keep our sight on things above, on our goals and our purpose rather than on details and discouragements. It’s simple, straightforward, and crazy effective.The Art of Homeschooling is all about building in such streamlined practices to keep us clear and capable in our homeschool journey.
Download your own free attitude alignment sheet below. Then use discount code podcast to get $10 off The Art of Homeschooling – you’ll love it, or I’ll give you your money back, right away.
Get started with a free attitude alignment cheat sheet that will help keep you focused on what matters:
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:0415404SO025: A Brain Dump Strategy for Momshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so025/
Mon, 27 Mar 2017 11:00:30 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=18345<p>Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue Brain dumping is such a helpful strategy, especially for moms at home. When we start holding a lot of things in our heads, trying to remember them is going to stress us out. It might just be a low-level stress we don’t even recognize, but when we get the details out onto paper, we will recognize the relief. So then, when you have that Brain Dump, especially that first BIG crazy spill onto … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so025/" aria-label="SO025: A Brain Dump Strategy for Moms">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so025/">SO025: A Brain Dump Strategy for Moms</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue Brain dumping is such a helpful strategy, especially for moms at home. When we start holding a lot of things in our heads, trying to remember them is going to stress us out.Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue
Brain dumping is such a helpful strategy, especially for moms at home.
When we start holding a lot of things in our heads, trying to remember them is going to stress us out. It might just be a low-level stress we don’t even recognize, but when we get the details out onto paper, we will recognize the relief.
So then, when you have that Brain Dump, especially that first BIG crazy spill onto paper, then what do you do with that?
Really, that’s what Simplified Organization is all about – what you do after the brain dump.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:1918345SC024: What is Education?https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc024/
Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:00:30 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15407<p>Season 4: Classical Education Basics So, what is education? What is it this task that I have signed up for? I’ve been collecting quotes on the topic for several years; when viewed together they paint an inspiring yet daunting picture. Here’s one of the quotes I’ve found. EDUCATION – Noah Webster’s Dictionary The bringing up, as of a child; instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc024/" aria-label="SC024: What is Education?">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc024/">SC024: What is Education?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 4: Classical Education Basics So, what is education? What is it this task that I have signed up for? I’ve been collecting quotes on the topic for several years; when viewed together they paint an inspiring yet daunting picture.Season 4: Classical Education Basics
So, what is education? What is it this task that I have signed up for? I’ve been collecting quotes on the topic for several years; when viewed together they paint an inspiring yet daunting picture. Here’s one of the quotes I’ve found.
EDUCATION – Noah Webster’s Dictionary

The bringing up, as of a child; instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and dorm the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.

Simple Sanity Saver: A Morning Attitude Alignment Sheet
How do you set up an attitude alignment sheet?
A morning attitude alignment sheet is an attitude focusing tool. It’s simple and straightforward, and might even seem silly. But I promise it’s crazy effective.
Reading over carefully selected quotes slowly, repeatedly, and prayerfully is one concrete way we can anchor our conviction in truth and make choices aligned with the truth we know, because we’ve put that truth in our bones, deliberately and daily.
Do you need my attitude alignment sheets? Not at all! In fact, setting up your own will likely be even more effective, especially if you already have a scattered collection of quotes that inspire you. It’s as simple as hand-copying some quotes and verses onto a journal page or typing them up and printing them out. Just keep them where they are easy to access and quick to review.
Download your own free attitude alignment sheet below. Then use discount code podcast to get $10 off The Art of Homeschooling – you’ll love it, or I’ll give you your money back, right away.
Get started with a free attitude alignment cheat sheet that will help keep you focused on what matters:
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean11:1315407SO024: Write it down, right away.https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so024/
Mon, 20 Mar 2017 13:06:03 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=18327<p>Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue You won’t remember – don’t try. When does the brilliant idea strike? When do you remember you’re desperately low on milk? It’s rarely when you’re actually sitting down, pen in hand, to make a relevant list. But if you don’t write it down right away, it’s gone. Hence, the need for ubiquitous capture. Ubiquitous capture is a term from David Allen’s Getting Things Done that basically means you should always have a way … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so024/" aria-label="SO024: Write it down, right away.">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so024/">SO024: Write it down, right away.</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue You won’t remember – don’t try. When does the brilliant idea strike? When do you remember you’re desperately low on milk? It’s rarely when you’re actually sitting down, pen in hand, to make a relevant list.Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue
You won’t remember – don’t try.
When does the brilliant idea strike?
When do you remember you’re desperately low on milk?
It’s rarely when you’re actually sitting down, pen in hand, to make a relevant list.
But if you don’t write it down right away, it’s gone.
Hence, the need for ubiquitous capture.
Ubiquitous capture is a term from David Allen’s Getting Things Done that basically means you should always have a way to write down, right away, any information you need to have rather than assuming you’ll remember it or remember to write it down later.
You have to write it down, right away.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:2218327SO024: Write It Down, Right Awayhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so024-2/
Mon, 20 Mar 2017 11:00:43 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=18358<p>When does the brilliant idea strike? When do you remember you’re desperately low on milk? It’s rarely when you’re actually sitting down, pen in hand, to make a relevant list. But if you don’t write it down right away, it’s gone. Hence, the need for ubiquitous capture. Ubiquitous capture is a term from David Allen’s Getting Things Done that basically means you should always have a way to write down, right away, any information you need to have rather than … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so024-2/" aria-label="SO024: Write It Down, Right Away">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so024-2/">SO024: Write It Down, Right Away</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>When does the brilliant idea strike? When do you remember you’re desperately low on milk? It’s rarely when you’re actually sitting down, pen in hand, to make a relevant list. But if you don’t write it down right away, it’s gone. Hence,
It’s rarely when you’re actually sitting down, pen in hand, to make a relevant list.
But if you don’t write it down right away, it’s gone.
Hence, the need for ubiquitous capture.
Ubiquitous capture is a term from David Allen’s Getting Things Done that basically means you should always have a way to write down, right away, any information you need to have rather than assuming you’ll remember it or remember to write it down later.

Recommended Reading:

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:2218358SC023: The Liberal Arts Are Musicalhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc023/
Thu, 16 Mar 2017 11:00:49 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15371<p>Season 4: Classical Education Basics Clark and Jain define a musical education not as one that is full of music or instruments, but as one that is rich with “the subjects inspired by the Muses.” Musical education is soul-craft: carried out properly, it tunes the soul and makes one receptive to truth and goodness. Read the original post: An education based on harmony Listen: Recommended Books: Simple Sanity Saver: Morning Attitude Alignment Sheet Why do you need an attitude alignment … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc023/" aria-label="SC023: The Liberal Arts Are Musical">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc023/">SC023: The Liberal Arts Are Musical</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 4: Classical Education Basics Clark and Jain define a musical education not as one that is full of music or instruments, but as one that is rich with “the subjects inspired by the Muses.” Musical education is soul-craft: carried out properly,Season 4: Classical Education Basics
Clark and Jain define a musical education not as one that is full of music or instruments, but as one that is rich with “the subjects inspired by the Muses.”
Musical education is soul-craft: carried out properly, it tunes the soul and makes one receptive to truth and goodness.
Read the original post: An education based on harmony

Listen:
Recommended Books:

Simple Sanity Saver: Morning Attitude Alignment Sheet
Why do you need an attitude alignment sheet?
A morning attitude alignment sheet is an attitude focusing tool. It’s simple and straightforward, and might even seem silly. But I promise it’s crazy effective.
I have found that a morning attitude alignment sheet helps me keep my eyes on the prize. It’s so easy in the midst of daily life to get caught up in the details and the duties and forget the big picture aims we’re working toward.
Homeschooling is a game that has to be played with the long view.
To keep us on the right track, moving forward however slowly, we need to keep our eyes on the goal we’re after. To have direction and be confident in the next step moving us in that direction, we have to know where we want to end up.
The attitude alignment page consists of Scripture and quotes to focus us on where we’re going and what’s important.
It is a way to purposefully set our minds on truth each day. We need to fill our minds with truth until it sinks into our hearts and then moves out our fingertips.

Spend just 2-3 minutes before you begin your homeschooling day reading these selections slowly, meditatively, and prayerfully. You will then move forward with increased confidence and improved vision.
The Art of Homeschooling is all about building both our confidence and our capacity as homeschool moms.
Download your own free attitude alignment sheet below. Then use discount code podcast to get $10 off The Art of Homeschooling – you’ll love it, or I’ll give you your money back, right away.
Get started with a free attitude alignment cheat sheet that will help keep you focused on what matters:
Spread the word!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:4615371SO023: What to Do With Your Brain Dump Listshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so023/
Mon, 13 Mar 2017 11:51:20 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=17207<p>Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue So, you’ve done a thorough brain dump and you have sheets upon sheets of notes, tasks, and ideas. Before you start getting your brain dump into a trusted system, you need to have that trusted system set up – you need those places and lists before your brain dump items can go into them. To get the thorough instructions for creating the systems you need, walk step-by-step through the course. For a more … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so023/" aria-label="SO023: What to Do With Your Brain Dump Lists">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so023/">SO023: What to Do With Your Brain Dump Lists</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue So, you’ve done a thorough brain dump and you have sheets upon sheets of notes, tasks, and ideas. Before you start getting your brain dump into a trusted system, you need to have that trusted system set up – you need ...Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue
So, you’ve done a thorough brain dump and you have sheets upon sheets of notes, tasks, and ideas.
Before you start getting your brain dump into a trusted system, you need to have that trusted system set up – you need those places and lists before your brain dump items can go into them.
To get the thorough instructions for creating the systems you need, walk step-by-step through the course. For a more cut-straight-to-the-chase approach, Paperless Home Organization is all about creating a digital version of a home management binder – a trusted system. That’s what you need before you can process your brain dump.
But if you are getting anxious about what to do with that brain dump now that it’s all captured and out of your head, here’s a quick cheat to get you rolling.

Recommended Reading:

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:2617207SC022: A Liberal Arts Educationhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc022/
Thu, 09 Mar 2017 11:49:11 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15329<p>Season 4: Classical Education Basics The liberal arts are the tools of learning. These are not subjects, not really. These are modes, ways of thinking, practices that teach us how to think and how to learn. They are not seven topics to study, but seven paths that prepare us for thinking, for philosophy, for virtue, for life. They are the prerequisite skills for an understanding of the world. Grammar teaches the skill of “grasping concepts”; it includes not only formal … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc022/" aria-label="SC022: A Liberal Arts Education">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc022/">SC022: A Liberal Arts Education</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 4: Classical Education Basics The liberal arts are the tools of learning. These are not subjects, not really. These are modes, ways of thinking, practices that teach us how to think and how to learn. They are not seven topics to study,Season 4: Classical Education Basics
The liberal arts are the tools of learning.
These are not subjects, not really. These are modes, ways of thinking, practices that teach us how to think and how to learn. They are not seven topics to study, but seven paths that prepare us for thinking, for philosophy, for virtue, for life. They are the prerequisite skills for an understanding of the world.
Grammar teaches the skill of “grasping concepts”; it includes not only formal language grammar (English and Latin), but also the material that informs our understanding, our grasping, of language: literature and history.
Logic, or Dialectic, teaches the skill of reasoning, questioning, and thinking. It includes research and of dialog as dialectic modes. Logic is taught so reasonable, stimulating, edifying conversation may be had.
Whereas logic is more about expressing oneself correctly, rhetoric is about expressing oneself winsomely and beautifully. The persuasive essay more than the book report is part of rhetoric. Rhetoric could include the subjects of debate or media studies as well as composition.
The first of the four number-centric quadrivium studies, arithmetic comprises what we would know as elementary mathematics: knowing the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts, as well as how to figure all the long forms.
Geometry studies is the study of geometry, but deductive reasoning is part and parcel of that study.
Historically and definitely classically, it has been astronomy that has been the area of study requiring the scientific method and abstract mathematics. It is about creating mathematical theories and systems that fit the observed data best.
Music as a liberal art is not primarily about playing an instrument, but about seeking and seeing harmonies of all sorts.
If you are at all interested in a historically-sound classical education, The Liberal Arts Tradition is a must read.
Whereas Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Arts Tradition deftly explains the philosophy of classical education, The Liberal Arts Tradition provides a rich yet readable explanation of what the liberal arts truly have been and should still be.
Read the original posts: Learning the Liberal Arts Tradition

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Recommended Books:

Simple Sanity Saver: A Morning Attitude Alignment Sheet
When do you use an attitude alignment sheet?
A morning attitude alignment sheet is an attitude focusing tool. It’s simple and straightforward, and might even seem silly. But I promise it’s crazy effective.
So, when do I use my attitude alignment sheet? I’ve had several different scenarios that work.
]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:4215329SO022: An Effective Brain Dumphttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so022/
Mon, 06 Mar 2017 11:00:44 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=16988<p>Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue Whenever you feel overwhelmed or scattered, sit down and brain dump. First, pick a place to keep your notes; either a notebook or index cards or Evernote, whatever thing would be convenient for you and just easy to jot things down. It doesn’t have to be structured – it shouldn’t be structured. It’s just a quick ‘get it out of your head and onto paper’ so that your head can be used for … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so022/" aria-label="SO022: An Effective Brain Dump">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so022/">SO022: An Effective Brain Dump</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue Whenever you feel overwhelmed or scattered, sit down and brain dump. First, pick a place to keep your notes; either a notebook or index cards or Evernote, whatever thing would be convenient for you and just easy to jo...Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue
Whenever you feel overwhelmed or scattered, sit down and brain dump.
First, pick a place to keep your notes; either a notebook or index cards or Evernote, whatever thing would be convenient for you and just easy to jot things down. It doesn’t have to be structured – it shouldn’t be structured. It’s just a quick ‘get it out of your head and onto paper’ so that your head can be used for thinking about things rather than holding things. You want to use the paper for holding (containing) your ideas and things to do (and whatever else pops into your head) and then you can look at the things outside of your head and use your head, your mind, for thinking about them and then you’ll make a better processing list later on. But doing something about them later comes later. First do the thorough, thorough Brain Dump.
This isn’t going to be a sit down and do it all in one sitting, or even once. I don’t know how many brain dump lists I have done, even this year.
It’s something that I just do when I start feeling scattered and distracted. I sit down, make a list, get it out of my head, and then I can look and say, “These are the things that are always on my brain dump list, I’m OK.” Life’s not going crazy, just my head. It’s all in my head. When you get it out of your head, you see it on paper, and at least eventually, hopefully, sometimes, it’s all in your head and not as crazy as you thought it was. It makes it easier to handle.
But maybe it’s not all in your head. What you need to do is get it out of your head so you can see it. Just get it all out of your head.
So, let it be a week, two weeks, even a month and just add to that list as you have time. At home with kids, with other responsibilities, you can’t dedicate an hour or three hours to getting everything out of your head in one-sitting. So just coming to it for just little chinks of time here and there throughout the day or even once a day for a week or more will help you get a better list, get everything out of your head as different things trigger different ideas or responsibilities you just add it to the list. So give it some time.
Let the thoughts percolate in your head and just give yourself time to get everything out of your head and onto paper.

Recommended Reading:

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:3416988SC021: Virtue Is the Goal of Classical Educationhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc021/
Thu, 02 Mar 2017 11:00:35 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15309<p>Season 4: Classical Education Basics Although the idea of classical homeschooling can be intimidating and appear unreachable, it is far more down-to-earth than we might think. This task is not too lofty for us, homeschooling moms with households to run; in fact, our very lifestyles are an asset, not a hindrance. If you’ve ever thought you needed to focus more on character than your curriculum checklist, you might be more classical than you think. We don’t need to abandon structure … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc021/" aria-label="SC021: Virtue Is the Goal of Classical Education">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc021/">SC021: Virtue Is the Goal of Classical Education</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 4: Classical Education Basics Although the idea of classical homeschooling can be intimidating and appear unreachable, it is far more down-to-earth than we might think. This task is not too lofty for us,Season 4: Classical Education Basics
Although the idea of classical homeschooling can be intimidating and appear unreachable, it is far more down-to-earth than we might think. This task is not too lofty for us, homeschooling moms with households to run; in fact, our very lifestyles are an asset, not a hindrance.
If you’ve ever thought you needed to focus more on character than your curriculum checklist, you might be more classical than you think.
We don’t need to abandon structure or high standards in order to focus on character, though we are right to swing the pendulum that direction.
After all, one’s soul is more important than one’s resumé.
Read the original post: Virtue as the Goal of Education

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Recommended Books:

Simple Sanity Saver: What’s on my attitude alignment sheet?
A morning attitude alignment sheet is an attitude focusing tool. It’s simple and straightforward, and might even seem silly. But it’s effective. Try it. I dare you.
Here’s one of my favorites from the Conviction attitude alignment sheet I created for the first module of The Art of Homeschooling:

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action. –Frank Tibolt

When I read this – maybe even copy it – I am reminded that it doesn’t matter whether I feel like starting the school day or not, it’s what I need to do. Start, and the inspiration follows – sometimes, anyway. It doesn’t matter if I feel like doing the dishes or folding the laundry. It doesn’t matter if I feel like exercising – it’s in the middle of choosing to do the right thing instead of the convenient feel-good thing that I actually do feel good and become inspired to keep going. Instead of letting my momentary desires dictate my path, I can make a conscious decision that will change my trajectory and that trajectory will increase my inspiration and my productivity.
If an attitude and motivation readjustment is what you need, check out The Art of Homeschooling, a five-step program for weary, overwrought homeschool moms.
Download your own free attitude alignment sheet below. Then use discount code podcast to get $10 off The Art of Homeschooling – you’ll love it, or I’ll give you your money back, right away.
Get started with a free attitude alignment cheat sheet that will help keep you focused on what matters:
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!...]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:2015309SO021: Tips for a Better Brain Dumphttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so021/
Mon, 27 Feb 2017 11:00:54 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=16755<p>Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue A complete and thorough brain dump is an integral part of both the Simplified Organization Self-Paced Course, and Work the Plan. Starting a brain dump list is the best strategy for combating the feelings of overwhelm and chaotic thoughts. It’s a quick get it out of your head and onto paper trick, not a structured list. When you get all those crazy thoughts out of head and onto paper, you will often see … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so021/" aria-label="SO021: Tips for a Better Brain Dump">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so021/">SO021: Tips for a Better Brain Dump</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue A complete and thorough brain dump is an integral part of both the Simplified Organization Self-Paced Course, and Work the Plan. Starting a brain dump list is the best strategy for combating the feelings of overwhelm ...Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue
A complete and thorough brain dump is an integral part of both the Simplified Organization Self-Paced Course, and Work the Plan.
Starting a brain dump list is the best strategy for combating the feelings of overwhelm and chaotic thoughts. It’s a quick get it out of your head and onto paper trick, not a structured list. When you get all those crazy thoughts out of head and onto paper, you will often see that the craziness was all in your head. With it solid on paper, you can then analyze it without being overwhelmed.
Completing a thorough brain dump is the first and necessary step to declutter your head.

Recommended Reading:

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean3:4216755SC020: What Is Classical Education?https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc020/
Thu, 23 Feb 2017 11:00:40 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15262<p>Season 4: Classical Education Basics A label is a tricky thing. Just when you decide to take on an adjective as an identity, you find people including shades of meaning that you don’t personally want to own. For this reason, it’s common now to eschew labels altogether and call them useless and misleading. However, I think we should be comfortable generalizing and allowing ourselves to be generalized. One generalized label is classical education. Under that umbrella, you can find many … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc020/" aria-label="SC020: What Is Classical Education?">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc020/">SC020: What Is Classical Education?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 4: Classical Education Basics A label is a tricky thing. Just when you decide to take on an adjective as an identity, you find people including shades of meaning that you don’t personally want to own. For this reason,Season 4: Classical Education Basics
A label is a tricky thing. Just when you decide to take on an adjective as an identity, you find people including shades of meaning that you don’t personally want to own. For this reason, it’s common now to eschew labels altogether and call them useless and misleading. However, I think we should be comfortable generalizing and allowing ourselves to be generalized.
One generalized label is classical education. Under that umbrella, you can find many different – sometimes seeming contradictory – definitions and applications.
But, if we look at principles rather than methods, then I think we will find many of those different voices agreeing more than not.
However, what is meant by education has remained principally the same until the Industrialization. Education has meant a pursuit of Truth and understanding, the pursuit of wisdom.
An educated person was one who is conversant with ideas and history and knows how to comport himself properly in light of this.
Read the original post: What does classical education mean?

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Simple Sanity Saver: What is an attitude alignment sheet?
A morning attitude alignment sheet is an attitude focusing tool. It’s simple and straightforward, and might even seem silly. But it’s effective. Try it.
All it is is a page of hard-hitting, convicting quotes that will make you sit up straight and take your day and your life and your actions more seriously.
If you review these same few but punchy quotes – and Scripture selections – daily for a period of time, they sink into your mind and heart in a new way. They also spring to mind when you need them in the midst of a foggy morning or an irritable afternoon. Acting on them is still hard work, but at least we’ve taken the 3-minute step to reminding ourselves of truth.
It will work, over time, with repetition and growth.
Reviewing specific truths to focus ourselves on our intention and our motivation is at the heart of The Art of Homeschooling , a five-step program for irritable, fatigued homeschool moms.
Download your own free attitude alignment sheet below. Then use discount code podcast to get $10 off The Art of Homeschooling – you’ll love it, or I’ll give you your money back, right away.
Get started with a free attitude alignment cheat sheet that will help keep you focused on what matters:
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean9:1115262SO020: Start with a Brain Dumphttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so020/
Mon, 20 Feb 2017 16:00:24 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=16488<p>Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue As the holidays wind down, the crazy schedules should let up and let us catch our breath. But if we were whirling all month from thing to thing, trying to track presents and events and guests and extra baking and so much more, we feel more like crashing than catching anything. Write it all down and get all your swirling, swimming thoughts out of your head and onto paper. You’ll be amazed at … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so020/" aria-label="SO020: Start with a Brain Dump">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so020/">SO020: Start with a Brain Dump</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 4: Brain Dump to the Rescue As the holidays wind down, the crazy schedules should let up and let us catch our breath. But if we were whirling all month from thing to thing, trying to track presents and events and guests and extra baking and so m...<a href="http://www.simplifiedorganization.com/braindump">Find the free brain dump guide.</a><br />
<br />
As the holidays wind down, the crazy schedules should let up and let us catch our breath. But if we were whirling all month from thing to thing, trying to track presents and events and guests and extra baking and so much more, we feel more like crashing than catching anything. <br />
<br />
Even though much is over, there’s now a new year approaching and thoughts of self-improvement and resolutions can hardly be fought off.<br />
<br />
Don’t fight off those thoughts, but don’t start with them, either. Before you can set realistic or intentional goals for the upcoming year, you need to start with an empty head. <br />
<br />
Write it all down and get all your swirling, swimming thoughts out of your head and onto paper.<br />
<br />
When you take some time over the course of a week or so and just start jotting down everything that’s on your mind, you’ll start clearing mental space so you can think about what’s on your mind instead of merely having the bits of information and pressure be tossed around in a jumble. <br />
<br />
In fact, I have a free guide that will lead you through the process of a thorough brain dump. I’ll give you assignments and questions that will help you get *everything* out of your head so you can start the year with intentional plans rather than vague obligations.<br />
<br />
To start your brain dump, simply grab a notebook or loose paper, your favorite pen, and a clear table to sit at. Just start listing out anything and everything that pops into your head as you think about what’s on your mind. What do you have to do? What do you want to do? What do you think you should want to do? What needs to fixed around the house? What improvements do you hope to make to your home or to yourself and your routines? What do the kids need? What do you need? <br />
<br />
Etc. Etc. Etc.<br />
<br />
As things come to you, write them down without a filter. Filter them, process them, delete as many as you can **later** - but let it all flow out of your head, through your hand, onto the paper at this point. Unstop the dam and let it all go.<br />
<br />
You’ll be amazed at how simply writing it all out will calm you down and bring you clarity.Mystie Wincklerclean3:3616488SC019: 5 Homeschooling Tips for Extrovertshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc019/
Thu, 09 Feb 2017 11:00:18 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15206<p>Season 3: Personality Matters Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page! Isn’t homeschooling a sure way to drive an extrovert mom out of her mind? It depends on the homeschool and on the mom. As an extrovert homeschool mom you can set up your schedule and methods to take advantage of your strengths and fully come alive in your role. Listen: Read the original post: 5 Tips for an Extrovert Homeschool Mom Recommended Books: Although teaching is extroverting, learning … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc019/" aria-label="SC019: 5 Homeschooling Tips for Extroverts">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc019/">SC019: 5 Homeschooling Tips for Extroverts</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 3: Personality Matters Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page! Isn’t homeschooling a sure way to drive an extrovert mom out of her mind? It depends on the homeschool and on the mom.Season 3: Personality Matters

Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page!

Isn’t homeschooling a sure way to drive an extrovert mom out of her mind?

It depends on the homeschool and on the mom.

As an extrovert homeschool mom you can set up your schedule and methods to take advantage of your strengths and fully come alive in your role.

Although teaching is extroverting, learning is introverting. It is an internal process of making connections, seeing relations, and filing away information. It is something that happens internally, in each person’s mind.

So while introverts might have a natural advantage in that their dominant process is internal, even extroverts have an introvert function they can call into action to make learning happen “in the zone” for their type.

* a Ti will prefer to keep records, to work out information into logical relations by analysis and theory. He will prefer to reason things out than actually do things.* an Fi will prefer to connect concepts and information to an internal standard of values or priorities, doing gut-checks about how he feels about what he’s experiencing.* an Ni will prefer to see the interconnectedness of motivations, ideals, world views, and how everything relates back to their central priorities. He will wants to have goals and problem-solve to reach them.* an Si will prefer to collect all the data, all the information, about his interests. He will learn by filing experiences as memories and relate the new to previous experience and knowledge naturally.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean10:1015206SO019: You Need Time to Reset Your Perspectivehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so019/
Tue, 07 Feb 2017 11:00:04 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=14432<p>Season 3: Review Required Survival mode is a reality sometimes, but we shouldn’t accept it as normal. Many of us live in survival mode for long stretches of time during different seasons of mothering. That’s simply part of the gig. However, too often I think we forget that there are other modes we can live in. We can fail to recognize that we could rearrange our days to provide ourselves with some predictable and uninterrupted moments. Once we do that, … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so019/" aria-label="SO019: You Need Time to Reset Your Perspective">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so019/">SO019: You Need Time to Reset Your Perspective</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 3: Review Required Survival mode is a reality sometimes, but we shouldn’t accept it as normal. Many of us live in survival mode for long stretches of time during different seasons of mothering. That’s simply part of the gig. However,Season 3: Review Required
Survival mode is a reality sometimes, but we shouldn’t accept it as normal.
Many of us live in survival mode for long stretches of time during different seasons of mothering. That’s simply part of the gig. However, too often I think we forget that there are other modes we can live in. We can fail to recognize that we could rearrange our days to provide ourselves with some predictable and uninterrupted moments. Once we do that, we must also take the next step and use those moments not for shopping, not for pedicures, not for Facebook or a novel. We must use the times we’ve carved out for prayerfully getting our priorities in order. These other recreational activities are all acceptable and sometimes refreshing (not always) ways to chill, but we should only add them on top of or after using time to sort through the junk in our head and align our perspective again with what we know to be true.
The truth is you need some time reserved to think and wrap your head around your day and what’s going on.

]]>Mystie Winckler clean6:2214432SC018: 5 Homeschooling Tips for Introvertshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc018/
Thu, 02 Feb 2017 11:00:14 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15203<p>Season 3: Personality Matters Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page! Homeschooling is made for introverts. So say the extroverts. Sure, we get to stay home and keep our circle of influence strong and consolidated. In our day-to-day lives we don’t have to conform to a group or put on a show for others. However, homeschooling means we are constantly at the beck and call of our children’s needs, being at the center of our bustling homes, and living … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc018/" aria-label="SC018: 5 Homeschooling Tips for Introverts">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc018/">SC018: 5 Homeschooling Tips for Introverts</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 3: Personality Matters Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page! Homeschooling is made for introverts. So say the extroverts. Sure, we get to stay home and keep our circle of influence strong and consolidated.Season 3: Personality Matters

Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page!

Homeschooling is made for introverts.

So say the extroverts.

Sure, we get to stay home and keep our circle of influence strong and consolidated. In our day-to-day lives we don’t have to conform to a group or put on a show for others.

However, homeschooling means we are constantly at the beck and call of our children’s needs, being at the center of our bustling homes, and living a full and perhaps cluttered life. These aspects wear us introverts down.

But it is precisely because so much of ourselves is poured into our family that we must ensure we have something to pour. Giving takes energy, and introverts regain their energy in very specific ways.

The more we give ourselves the time and activities that build our energy back up, the better we’ll be able to tackle our daily duties with gusto.

So here are five ways we can ensure we’re giving and refilling, appropriately and meaningfully.

So, we’ve looked at how each type extroverts and introverts and how each plays a valuable role in society. How does this apply to a typical homeschool Tuesday morning?

Teaching – even of your own kids – is extroverting. It is managing other people and making things happen. Introverts have to move to their secondary function – their extroverting function – to find their sweet spot for homeschooling. It’s not only about finding alone-time after the fact, it’s about extroverting in the best way for your type.

* a Te will need to feel like she’s off to a strong start, with a good plan. Even if deviations occur or if everything is derailed, at some point she needs to cycle back to her plan and work through that path.* an Fe will need to feel connection with her kids,]]>Mystie Wincklerclean15203SO018: One Quick Hack to Improve Your Planhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so018/
Mon, 30 Jan 2017 16:25:31 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=14451<p>Season 3: Review Required Write your plan the night before and supercharge your day. The day was over. The kids in bed, the house quiet. Time to sigh, breathe deep, and decide how to relax. I glanced down and I caught sight of my daily index card plan I’d made that morning. Ugh. I’d totally forgotten about it after the hubbub of the day had begun. I had begun with such high hopes and ended up feeling like I’d simply … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so018/" aria-label="SO018: One Quick Hack to Improve Your Plan">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so018/">SO018: One Quick Hack to Improve Your Plan</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 3: Review Required Write your plan the night before and supercharge your day. The day was over. The kids in bed, the house quiet. Time to sigh, breathe deep, and decide how to relax. I glanced down and I caught sight of my daily index card plan ...Season 3: Review Required
Write your plan the night before and supercharge your day.
The day was over. The kids in bed, the house quiet.
Time to sigh, breathe deep, and decide how to relax.
I glanced down and I caught sight of my daily index card plan I’d made that morning.
Ugh. I’d totally forgotten about it after the hubbub of the day had begun. I had begun with such high hopes and ended up feeling like I’d simply held on for dear life.
Oh well. I thought. That’s just my season of life right now.
Since I’ve started this blog, I’ve told people to be sure to plan their days. Just 10 minutes in the morning makes a big difference.
I was wrong.
What really makes a big difference is if you make your daily plan the night before.
Making some sort of plan first thing in the morning will probably help more than making no plan – as long as you look at it during the day.
A plan made during the evening, however, has much more sticking power for two very potent reasons.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean7:1914451SC017: Homeschool Mom Personalitieshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc017/
Fri, 27 Jan 2017 11:00:05 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15162<p>Season 3: Personality Matters Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page! When we realize that we’re trying to imitate a type totally opposite our own, we can realize why we feel defeated and beat up. Not only that, we can take a step back, value that other type’s abilities, yet shift our own energies toward what will work for us. When we know our own type and what that means for us, we can automatically filter out curriculums and … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc017/" aria-label="SC017: Homeschool Mom Personalities">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc017/">SC017: Homeschool Mom Personalities</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 3: Personality Matters Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page! When we realize that we’re trying to imitate a type totally opposite our own, we can realize why we feel defeated and beat up. Not only that,Season 3: Personality Matters

Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page!

When we realize that we’re trying to imitate a type totally opposite our own, we can realize why we feel defeated and beat up. Not only that, we can take a step back, value that other type’s abilities, yet shift our own energies toward what will work for us.

When we know our own type and what that means for us, we can automatically filter out curriculums and opportunities that won’t work for us. We don’t have to try it and crash and burn first. We can see that it’s not going to mesh. We also don’t have to feel bad about what doesn’t work for us, and we can better understand why something works for our friend when it doesn’t work for us.

When we know our personality type we can also see where we need to outsource, where we need to get help, where we’re going to have to budget recovery time and just what kind of recovery time we need. Recovery and refreshment plans for each personality type will be a post all it’s own. :)

Just as each type has a preferred way of extroverting, of making change happen in the world, so each type has a preferred way of introverting, of living a life of the mind. Even extroverts need to think, to connect what’s happening inside and outside of themselves to previous experience and to their core values.

* a Ti will connect information in order to analyze it, put it into categories and conceptual constructs.* an Fi will connect experiences and information to her own gut and values.* an Si will connect experience and ideas to her previous experiences, filtered according to what’s important to her and seeking out details that support her interests.* an Ni will connect experience and ideas to a unifying principle, her core obsessive interest, usually. This type is primarily a worldview thinker.

]]>Mystie Winckler clean8:0815162SO017: Review Required Every Eveninghttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so017/
Mon, 23 Jan 2017 11:00:56 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=14181<p>Season 3: Review Required After working to make morning review a habit, I thought I was good to go. Indeed, I was better to go.But putting a quick evening review practice into place has remarkably increased my effectiveness and my ability to carry out my plans. It’s like putting a bow on the day. In the morning, the review is a process of getting set to go. In the evening, it’s about wrapping it up and closing it out. It … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so017/" aria-label="SO017: Review Required Every Evening">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so017/">SO017: Review Required Every Evening</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 3: Review Required After working to make morning review a habit, I thought I was good to go. Indeed, I was better to go.But putting a quick evening review practice into place has remarkably increased my effectiveness and my ability to carry out ...Season 3: Review Required
After working to make morning review a habit, I thought I was good to go. Indeed, I was better to go.But putting a quick evening review practice into place has remarkably increased my effectiveness and my ability to carry out my plans.
It’s like putting a bow on the day. In the morning, the review is a process of getting set to go. In the evening, it’s about wrapping it up and closing it out. It doesn’t take long, and it adds a note of finality and peace to the day: an ending ritual that brings calm.

]]>Mystie Winckler clean5:3314181SC016: Knowing Your Child’s Personalityhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc016/
Thu, 19 Jan 2017 11:00:41 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15159<p>Season 3: Personality Matters Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page! Understanding differences in personality type can drastically reduce conflict and friction in relationships, and this is as true with our children as it is with anyone else. However, typing children is tricky. Personality preferences develop over time, as people exercise more and more decision-making and observation-making abilities. Children are developing, and so we need to give them space to grow and experiment and blossom rather than box them … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc016/" aria-label="SC016: Knowing Your Child’s Personality">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc016/">SC016: Knowing Your Child’s Personality</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 3: Personality Matters Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page! Understanding differences in personality type can drastically reduce conflict and friction in relationships, and this is as true with our children as it is with ...Season 3: Personality Matters

Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page!

Understanding differences in personality type can drastically reduce conflict and friction in relationships, and this is as true with our children as it is with anyone else.

However, typing children is tricky. Personality preferences develop over time, as people exercise more and more decision-making and observation-making abilities. Children are developing, and so we need to give them space to grow and experiment and blossom rather than box them into labels prematurely. Though typing them can be helpful, we should be careful to not do so too soon and to still always treat them as an individual rather than as a type. Finding our children’s personality type should only be done as a means to understanding and shepherding them better, seeing how different responses to a given situation might not be a sin problem or even need to be a conflict if we understand that they see things and respond to things differently than we do.

Knowing their tendencies helps you understand their perspective, what they’re seeing, and how to respond to them so they understand you.

I mentioned in the last episode that introverts have to extrovert and extroverts have to introvert. It’s true. You are not either a total extrovert or a total introvert – or, if you are, you’re not functional. Extroverting means dealing with anything external to you while introverting means dealing with anything inside your mind – we all do both, though we each prefer one mode.

And, there are multiple ways to both extrovert and introvert. For example, a TJ personality type extroverts by making decisions, being bossy, and getting things done while an FJ type extroverts by being a sort of emotional thermostat for people – sensing where people are and helping move them toward where the...]]>Mystie Winckler clean14:4215159SO016: Review Required Every Morninghttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so016/
Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:48:45 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=13726<p>Season 3: Review Required A real review process will lead to enhanced and proactive new thinking in key areas of your life and work. Such thinking emerges from both focused concentration and serendipitous brainstorming, which will be triggered and galvanized by a consistent personal review of your inventory of actions and projects. Remember that this system does not remain rigid and dictatorial. Your system cannot be static, like a mechanical clock that ruthlessly continues to tick. Rather, it is a … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so016/" aria-label="SO016: Review Required Every Morning">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so016/">SO016: Review Required Every Morning</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 3: Review Required A real review process will lead to enhanced and proactive new thinking in key areas of your life and work. Such thinking emerges from both focused concentration and serendipitous brainstorming,Season 3: Review Required
A real review process will lead to enhanced and proactive new thinking in key areas of your life and work.
Such thinking emerges from both focused concentration and serendipitous brainstorming, which will be triggered and galvanized by a consistent personal review of your inventory of actions and projects.
Remember that this system does not remain rigid and dictatorial. Your system cannot be static, like a mechanical clock that ruthlessly continues to tick. Rather, it is a focusing tool that holds information so that your brain is free to engage in creative thinking. By reviewing your lists and materials when necessary, you keep your brain from taking back the job of Reminder-in-Chief.
It is review combined with thorough collection that makes your lists trustworthy

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:191372615: Personality & Learning Styleshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc015/
Thu, 12 Jan 2017 11:28:01 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15122<p>Season 3: Personality Matters Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page! Those of us educating young children tend to use the vocabulary of learning styles, though current research seems to be showing that most of the learning styles rhetoric is bunk. Still, we do know that children are different. We know that there are different modes of and avenues for learning. There is value in reading, in hearing, and in doing. I believe that some of what people are … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc015/" aria-label="SC015: Personality & Learning Styles">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc015/">SC015: Personality & Learning Styles</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 3: Personality Matters Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page! Those of us educating young children tend to use the vocabulary of learning styles, though current research seems to be showing that most of the learning styles ...Season 3: Personality Matters

Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page!

Those of us educating young children tend to use the vocabulary of learning styles, though current research seems to be showing that most of the learning styles rhetoric is bunk.

Still, we do know that children are different. We know that there are different modes of and avenues for learning. There is value in reading, in hearing, and in doing.

I believe that some of what people are describing when they speak about different learning styles can be tied back to personality. In fact, Isabel Briggs Myers has an entire chapter in her 1980 book, Gifts Differing titled “Learning Styles” as well as another chapter called “Type and Early Learning” (all quotes in this post are from this book).

Type tells us what interests this person the most (that is, what do they naturally pay attention to) and how they best “catch on” to an idea through communication.

There is no one ideal personality type. Each type serves a role that supports other types. It is only together, in a community, a family, a society, made of of multiple types, that we can have a full perspective and be in tune with what is happening and what needs to happen.

None of us are complete and whole in and of ourselves. We are finite, limited. We need each other to function in a more complete and whole way. When Isabel Myers wrote her book, she called it “Gifts Differing,” referencing 2 Corinthians x – where God reminds us that we all serve different functions and it is only together that we make a whole body. Some are feet, some are eyes, and if we are missing a type, we will be handicapped. Rather than seeing other personality types as competing types or alien types, we need to see them as completing types, needed types to balance our own selves.

]]>Mystie Winckler clean13:4815122SO015: Review Required Every Weekhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so015/
Tue, 10 Jan 2017 11:00:22 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=6579<p>Season 3: Review Required Review Required Every Week A weekly review is applying common sense to our weekly rituals. What do we do before leaving on an extended trip? Clean up, close up, clarify, and wrap up decisions needing to be made. A weekly review is a time to do that every week instead of once or twice a year. It is by a regular weekly review that we can keep a clear mind and a sense of relaxed control … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so015/" aria-label="SO015: Review Required Every Week">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so015/">SO015: Review Required Every Week</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 3: Review Required Review Required Every Week A weekly review is applying common sense to our weekly rituals. What do we do before leaving on an extended trip? Clean up, close up, clarify, and wrap up decisions needing to be made.Season 3: Review Required
Review Required Every Week
A weekly review is applying common sense to our weekly rituals. What do we do before leaving on an extended trip? Clean up, close up, clarify, and wrap up decisions needing to be made. A weekly review is a time to do that every week instead of once or twice a year.
It is by a regular weekly review that we can keep a clear mind and a sense of relaxed control in the midst of a crazy and full life.
It is tempting to think a weekly review is feasible only in the office workplace setting. You know, someplace where you can close the door and easily have space and time alone. A place not at all like home. But it is precisely because our work at home threatens to deluge and overwhelm us at all hours and every day that we need to carve out a time and space to strategize, to regroup, and to be refreshed.
I bet we can all find 30-45 minutes somewhere once a week without interactions or other demands — the difficulty is in choosing to use it this way instead of zoning out on random internet searches or Pinterest-browsing. We must be both savvy and disciplined enough to know the value of sacrificing the seemingly relaxing for the truly refreshing & rejuvenating, creating our own islands of time and space for some version of this process.
The key is finding the time, and carving out that time regularly, and performing this clarifying and ordering ritual.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:446579SC014: Personality Typinghttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc014-personality-typing/
Thu, 05 Jan 2017 11:00:57 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=15058<p>Season 3: Personality Matters Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page! If you all clamor for the in-depth justification of why I think it’s ok to use and recommend the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), even though it was based on Jung’s theory (and Jung was messed up) and even though each person is a beautiful unique snowflake, I can do that as the last post to this theory. But to kick this off, I’ll simply say that typing people … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc014-personality-typing/" aria-label="SC014: Personality Typing">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/sc014-personality-typing/">SC014: Personality Typing</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 3: Personality Matters Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page! If you all clamor for the in-depth justification of why I think it’s ok to use and recommend the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator),Season 3: Personality Matters

Don’t miss the free homeschool personalities reference page!

If you all clamor for the in-depth justification of why I think it’s ok to use and recommend the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), even though it was based on Jung’s theory (and Jung was messed up) and even though each person is a beautiful unique snowflake, I can do that as the last post to this theory. But to kick this off, I’ll simply say that typing people into 4-12 kinds has been going on since Aristotle, and Kiersey (the one who named and described each of Myers-Briggs’ 16 types) makes a compelling argument that the ancient systems (like choleric, melancholic, etc) are observations of the same sort as those made by Isabel Briggs Myers.

So, I will admit it. I am a personality nerd. I am a total Myers-Briggs Type Indicator junkie.

When you know your personality type, you can adjust your expectations of yourself and of your homeschool to be realistic.

The website 16personalities.com has a useful free test that is more accurate than many free ones available on the internet. Head over to the podcast page at https://www.simplyconvivial.com/audio to find that.

However, what is really useful information when you know your type is to know your preferred way to extrovert (because even introverts have to deal with other people and make things happen in the world) and your preferred way to introvert (because even extroverts have to know with what’s important to them and make connections in their minds).

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean11:2415058SO014: Why Moms Need a Weekly Reviewhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so014/
Mon, 02 Jan 2017 11:00:42 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=6565<p>Season 3: Review Required A weekly review is a common business productivity recommendation, and a practice I encourage in Simplified Organization: Learning to Love What Must Be Done. It is a time to reorient yourself to what you have on your plate and renegotiate your commitments. You take some time and look at your calendar, make fresh to-do lists, decide what your biggest responsibilities are this week and then make sure those stay in front of your face so they … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so014/" aria-label="SO014: Why Moms Need a Weekly Review">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2017/so014/">SO014: Why Moms Need a Weekly Review</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Season 3: Review Required A weekly review is a common business productivity recommendation, and a practice I encourage in Simplified Organization: Learning to Love What Must Be Done. It is a time to reorient yourself to what you have on your plate and ...Why Moms Need a Weekly Review<br />
<br />
A weekly review is a common business productivity recommendation, and a practice I encourage in Simplified Organization: Learning to Love What Must Be Done. It is a time to reorient yourself to what you have on your plate and renegotiate your commitments. You take some time and look at your calendar, make fresh to-do lists, decide what your biggest responsibilities are this week and then make sure those stay in front of your face so they can get done.<br />
<br />
Moms need a weekly review just as much as a business executive. We have sports practices, volunteer dates, meals, and so much more we must accomplish in a week. The process of evaluating everything that’s upcoming in a calm manner beforehand helps us meet our commitments with peace and preparedness.<br />
<br />
But it is hard to discipline ourselves to set aside the time. It’s more likely that we just keep on going as we’ve been going without pausing to reflect and set ourselves up for a solid, focused week.<br />
<br />
But it is only our own peace of mind and sanity we are sacrificing when we skip a weekly review.<br />Mystie Wincklerclean6:256565SC013: The Law of Reviewhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc013/
Wed, 30 Nov 2016 11:00:01 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14918<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own Law 7: The Law of Review Summary of Law 7: The completion, test, and confirmation of the work of teaching must be made by review and … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc013/" aria-label="SC013: The Law of Review">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc013/">SC013: The Law of Review</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own
Law 7: The Law of Review
Summary of Law 7: The completion, test, and confirmation of the work of teaching must be made by review and application. Gregory posits not only that review and application are the “essential conditions of all true teaching,” but also that “not to review is to leave the job half done.” The aim of reviewing material is threefold:

Simple Sanity Saver: Audit Your Relationships
Our home schools are really only as strong as our relationships with our kids, and I wince as I say that, but I will say it because it’s true.
The final section of the homeschool audit asks you to examine your relationships. What causes conflict in your homeschool day? How can you defuse it rather than escalate it?
These issues are the formation of character – ours and our kids’. As Rachel Jankovic says, “Sin is a fact of life. It is the way we deal with it that changes ours.” This section is not about ridding ourselves or our kids of sin, because that’s impossible. But it is about thinking of strategies to help us deal with it appropriately.
It’s the small things that add up and make an atmosphere and a relationship. Choose one small habit to build into your routine this next term. Small but significant changes snowball into large and significant changes.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean14918SO013: EHAP, a tidy-house strategyhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so013/
Mon, 28 Nov 2016 11:26:32 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=5944<p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Motivation to Clean EHAP: My secret to a mostly-tidy house We have a small practice that saves the state of our house, almost every day. It’s simple and effective – as long as we do it. When I keep the time in the … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so013/" aria-label="SO013: EHAP, a tidy-house strategy">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so013/">SO013: EHAP, a tidy-house strategy</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Motivation to Clean
EHAP: My secret to a mostly-tidy house
We have a small practice that saves the state of our house, almost every day. It’s simple and effective – as long as we do it. When I keep the time in the late afternoon regularly carved out for it, I can handle the intermittent chaos that descends as the kids work and play throughout the day. I know order will be restored, so I can take a deep breath and let them strew blankets and play food everywhere.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:555944SC012: The Law of the Learning Processhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc012-law-learning-process/
Wed, 23 Nov 2016 11:00:46 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14799<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own Law 6: The Law of the Learning Process Gregory wishes us to remember that in all our planning and teaching, “there is a clear and distinct … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc012-law-learning-process/" aria-label="SC012: The Law of the Learning Process">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc012-law-learning-process/">SC012: The Law of the Learning Process</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own
Law 6: The Law of the Learning Process
Gregory wishes us to remember that in all our planning and teaching, “there is a clear and distinct act or process which we wish [the student] to accomplish”: learning. It is primarily the learner’s task, not the teacher’s. He must drink freely and it cannot be forced. Learning is more directly the work of the student than the teacher.
The work of education is much more the work of the pupil than the teacher. Learning comes by processes of interpretation. Until the knowledge coming forth from the teacher (the mother or the books), is churned and assimilated within the learner, that knowledge does not become the possession of the learner. We want to aim that our students gain clear and distinct conceptions of new facts and principles. How can we facilitate such acts? By giving them opportunities to digest their material and derive its benefits. Basically, narrate, narrate, narrate.

Simple Sanity Saver: Audit Your Flow
Auditing your flow might seem a lot like auditing your schedule, but it’s a little different angle. As you examine your flow, you’re looking at what each child should be working on when, how your time is best allocated in the midst of a variety of needs, and how to help smooth the transitions for everyone.
One key area to look at is How your children let you know they need your help. Do they interrupt? Do you forget? What systems can you put in place to make sure everyone gets what they need without a lot of extra stress or drama. We should do whatever we can do to minimize frustration for all and make it habitual to move through our day with the law of kindness on our tongues.
How does your school day begin? How do you call kids back in after they’ve had a recess or lunch? Do they go off and play when they should be working? How can you communicate with them so that getting the day’s work done is a family-team effort rather than mom pulling everyone’s chain? These are important questions to ask, and important solutions to see, if we want a convivial atmosphere.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean14799SO012: Cheerful Chore Challengehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so012/
Mon, 21 Nov 2016 11:24:11 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=5942<p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Motivation to Clean How strict should our standards for cleanliness be? We are whole people. And we get in trouble when we live in false paradigms. I am one me and you are one you, and there is no separate identity in each … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so012/" aria-label="SO012: Cheerful Chore Challenge">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so012/">SO012: Cheerful Chore Challenge</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Motivation to Clean
How strict should our standards for cleanliness be?
We are whole people. And we get in trouble when we live in false paradigms. I am one me and you are one you, and there is no separate identity in each area of our life. That’s true even with housework. How we do what we are responsible to do in the little area of home will be how we handle responsibility in wider and deeper areas. It’s practice for what we’re becoming. How we think and act in the seemingly insignificant work will affect how we think and act in all our work. We are what we repeatedly do. And if we repeatedly, day in and day out, complain and grumble, then we will be complainers and grumblers – not just in that one area, but in them all.
We are whole people.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:075942SC011: The Law of the Teaching Processhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc011-law-teaching-process/
Wed, 16 Nov 2016 11:00:32 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14744<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own Law 5: Law of the Teaching Process Excite and direct the self-activities of the pupil, and as a rule tell him nothing he can learn himself.This, … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc011-law-teaching-process/" aria-label="SC011: The Law of the Teaching Process">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc011-law-teaching-process/">SC011: The Law of the Teaching Process</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own
Law 5: Law of the Teaching Process
Excite and direct the self-activities of the pupil, and as a rule tell him nothing he can learn himself.This, claims Gregory, is the most widely recognized rule among good teachers. Although there may be times to disregard this law — when time is of the essence, when the child is ill or weak, or when the child is discouraged, for example — however, for the most part, the teacher is to “make [her] pupil a discoverer of truth” — make him find out for himself.
Read the original post: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own: Law of the Teaching Process

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Simple Sanity Saver: Audit Your Stuff
This section of the homeschool audit is about the actual tangibles and tools that help us or hinder us. These are the prompts that remind us how important it is to declutter and keep things streamlined. Walk through a typical day in your mind’s eye and list out what supplies you or your kids need at hand – and where you need them. Can you set up the stuff to reduce friction and resistance? Can you smooth out some hiccups to your schedule by making sure you have what you need where you need it? Does everything have a home? Does everything have a purpose? Is the space you have used wisely or is it all just a jumble? Jumbled stuff will slow you down. We can’t get rid of the people that slow us down, because they are our job, but if stuff is slowing us down, we should get rid of it.
Sometimes, the best organizing tool is your garbage can.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean14744SO011: Be a happy homemaker.https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so011/
Mon, 14 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=5939<p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Motivation to Clean How strict should our standards for cleanliness be? Our homes are tools to be made use of, not display pieces to handle gingerly. Tools get dirty. Tools have to be taken care of. The point is to keep them useful … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so011/" aria-label="SO011: Be a happy homemaker.">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so011/">SO011: Be a happy homemaker.</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Motivation to Clean
How strict should our standards for cleanliness be?
Our homes are tools to be made use of, not display pieces to handle gingerly. Tools get dirty. Tools have to be taken care of. The point is to keep them useful and functioning, not pristine. A shovel left out in the grass all winter will rust and rot and not be much use in the spring; a home left untended will run to weeds. But a home cared for will not be immaculate.
The aim in cleaning house is not to have a clean house, but to prepare the house for further functioning.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:515939SC010: The Law of the Lessonhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc010-law-lesson/
Wed, 09 Nov 2016 11:00:30 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14739<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own Law 4: Law of the Lesson Gregory begins with a defense of his position that children possess the innate ability to think, which I will simply … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc010-law-lesson/" aria-label="SC010: The Law of the Lesson">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc010-law-lesson/">SC010: The Law of the Lesson</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own
Law 4: Law of the Lesson
Gregory begins with a defense of his position that children possess the innate ability to think, which I will simply assume and not summarize. If you aren’t sure if your children are able to think, you’ll have to read that part yourself.

The law of the lesson has its reason in the nature of the mind and in the nature of human knowledge.

Simple Sanity Saver: Audit Your Schedule
The next section in the homeschool audit guide is an audit of your schedule. There are prompts here to look at the overall schedule of the year, of the week, and of the day. The prompts also attempt to help you learn from the past and make adjustments to your schedule based on what you have learned about yourself and your kids and how you all work.
There is no one ideal schedule. The best schedule is the one that happens, not the one that’s done by lunch or starts at 8. As you put together your daily and weekly schedule, shape it according to your own needs and not your imaginary ideal.
Are you allotting enough time for your work? Are you planning on lessons taking a certain length of time because that’s the ideal or because that’s actually how long it takes you and your kids? Your schedule has to be realistic and take into account the whiny toddler, the diaper changes, and the broken washing machine – always budget plenty of extra time or you will always be scrambling.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean40255SO010: Clean House with the End in Mindhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so010/
Mon, 07 Nov 2016 11:12:46 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=5934<p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Motivation to Clean You need to know the point of your work. The goal of housekeeping is to be ready for use. The end goal of housekeeping is actually not to have a clean house. The clean house is itself a tool, not … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so010/" aria-label="SO010: Clean House with the End in Mind">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so010/">SO010: Clean House with the End in Mind</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Motivation to Clean
You need to know the point of your work.
The goal of housekeeping is to be ready for use.
The end goal of housekeeping is actually not to have a clean house. The clean house is itself a tool, not an end. A house being used for living, working, loving, serving is fulfilling its end. Keeping up with the maintenance is useful because it helps us live, work, love, and serve more effectively, not because the house’s natural, normal state is supposed to be some sort of static, sterile, pristine clean.
When we clean house as though the point is to arrive at an end state of Clean, then we’re bound to be frustrated and discouraged because clean never lasts. Part of that is due to the Fall and the imperfection of the world; however, part of that is due to simple use.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:395934SC009: The Law of the Languagehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc009/
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 11:00:36 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14682<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own Law 9: The Law of the Language Gregory speaks in this chapter of language as a vehicle of instruction, an instrument of learning, and a storehouse … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc009/" aria-label="SC009: The Law of the Language">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc009/">SC009: The Law of the Language</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own
Law 9: The Law of the Language
Gregory speaks in this chapter of language as a vehicle of instruction, an instrument of learning, and a storehouse of knowledge. Briefly, he means that through common language we communicate experience, by speaking we appropriate what we perceive, that without adequate words we cannot think through ideas clearly, and that what we know we will name. Beware, he warns, words with multiple meanings or homophones — children easily pick up confused meanings, unaware that their perception is inaccurate. It is what the student interprets in his mind, not what the teacher intends, that matters:

Not what the speaker expresses from his own mind, but what the hearer understands and reproduces in his mind, measures the communicating power of the language used.

Simple Sanity Saver: Audit Your Year
This is particularly helpful at the end of a school year, but you can also adjust it for the end of each term to evaluate progress and determine the best adjustments to make.
Auditing your year or your term is about noticing the progress that has been made. In the midst of the day-to-day, we often don’t see the trends, because they’re small changes that can be almost imperceptible at times.
Taking a little time out now and then to assess each child’s progress in the important areas and interests outside of our school plan helps us see the big picture and realize that there is so much learning happening all the time. It’s not limited to progress in the number of math lessons or history chapters. And, if you notice an essential area they’re particularly resistant to, looking at the overall arch of their progress and their interests might give you insight into how to address the resistance for that particular child.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean40250SO009: A reasonably clean househttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so009/
Mon, 31 Oct 2016 11:00:00 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=5932<p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Motivation to Clean How strict should our standards for cleanliness be? Leila then defines “reasonably clean” as “one that has order, but doesn’t take all day to get there, and one we can whip into shape if we need to, as opposed to … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so009/" aria-label="SO009: A reasonably clean house">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so009/">SO009: A reasonably clean house</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Motivation to Clean
How strict should our standards for cleanliness be?
Leila then defines “reasonably clean” as “one that has order, but doesn’t take all day to get there, and one we can whip into shape if we need to, as opposed to booming and busting.”
So “reasonably clean” is a personal, individual balance between not shirking one’s work, giving a good effort, and not being anxious or spending too much time on it (ha!). In other words, absolutely spotless is not our goal. Our goal is to apply ourselves evenly across our domain, not booming and busting (something I am always doing!) and not being uptight in one area while ignoring something equally important like meals or clean clothes or not-disgusting bathrooms. Leila’s series zeroes in on the basics and gives some great tips for making it happen and — most importantly — keeping it happening.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:085932SC008: The Law of the Learnerhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc008/
Wed, 26 Oct 2016 10:55:59 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14624<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own Law 2: The learner must attend with interest to the material to be learned. A learner – which is what our children are supposed to be … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc008/" aria-label="SC008: The Law of the Learner">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc008/">SC008: The Law of the Learner</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own
Law 2: The learner must attend with interest to the material to be learned.
A learner – which is what our children are supposed to be – cannot be passive. To become a learner, a child must have two things: interest and attention. Unless and until the child becomes invested with interest and attention to the lesson, the teacher teaches but in vain.

One may as well talk to the deaf or to the dead as attempt to teach a child who is wholly inattentive.

So, what is attention, exactly? Gregory develops three types of attention, one progressing to the other naturally, and it is leading his students through the progression, the development, of attention, that is the teacher’s duty
Read the original post: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own: Law of the Learner

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Simple Sanity Saver: Audit Your Situation
To begin your own homeschool audit, look at your situation. You can’t make an ideal homeschool plan in a vacuum, ignoring your own particular needs and circumstances.
This section asks you to score your situation to assess the drains on your energy. The scores are totally arbitrary, but give you a grid by which to evaluate why your days might be feeling so hard – maybe they feel so hard because they are so hard! Which sections give you the highest points – is there something you can do there to lower your score? Are there ways you can compensate for a high score in one area by lessening your responsibilities in another?
One question in this section asks you to add points if you have no homeschooling friends you talk to weekly. I think we underestimate what a help it is to have friends to chat with, friends with whom to share the load, even if only the mental load and not the daily work of educating our kids. Local friends who know you and your family are best, and it is worth rearranging life to foster those friendships. If that’s not possible, finding likeminded women online is the next best option – but we all need friends to share the journey with and talk shop. Seek out friendships and cut something else out rather than them when time feels tight.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean40249SO008: What novels taught me about cleaning househttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so008-2/
Mon, 24 Oct 2016 11:04:04 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=5930<p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Motivation to Clean Housework seemed like a stupid waste of time. And I hated wastes of time and stupidity, so I triply hated housework. I was torn between wanting to be a good, competent homemaker and thinking that the state of my bedroom … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so008-2/" aria-label="SO008: What novels taught me about cleaning house">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so008-2/">SO008: What novels taught me about cleaning house</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Motivation to Clean
Housework seemed like a stupid waste of time.
And I hated wastes of time and stupidity, so I triply hated housework.
I was torn between wanting to be a good, competent homemaker and thinking that the state of my bedroom or the kitchen just wasn’t a big deal. I could get meals on the table, keep things stocked, and complete a project just fine. But the day-in day-out routine tasks were a drag.
I’m not going to say that I love those routines now or that I totally rock them, because I don’t. But I am learning to love them.
And it all started back then, when my third born was just a baby, and I was reading novels.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:165930SC007: The Law of the Teacherhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc007/
Wed, 19 Oct 2016 11:07:44 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14492<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own Law 1: The teacher must know that which he would teach. A teacher who knows what he is talking about, who has internalized that which he … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc007/" aria-label="SC007: The Law of the Teacher">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc007/">SC007: The Law of the Teacher</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 2: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own
Law 1: The teacher must know that which he would teach.
A teacher who knows what he is talking about, who has internalized that which he would communicate, is free; he is not slave to a textbook or curriculum. It is from feeling and living the truth that he knows that enthusiasm spills over to his students. It is the excitement of felt interest that sparks all his powers of communication.
This law, stating that teachers must know – really know – what they are teaching, might discourage us and make homeschooling seem foolish and futile. However, it doesn’t have to. You delegate when homeschooling as you would if you sent your child to school. If your child went to school, you would still hold him accountable to completing his work well, right? That is your primary job in homeschooling, as well, not standing in front of the whiteboard as the fount of all knowledge.
Indeed, the best application of this law for us is in our choice of books and materials. This law is the reason living books are essential. The authors your child reads are his teachers, so ensuring they are clear, passionate, knowledgable teachers is vital.
Read the original post: Seven Laws of Teaching Your Own: The Law of the Teacher

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Simple Sanity Saver: A Homeschool-Specific Brain Dump
What is a homeschool audit? In its simplest form, it is a brain dump all about our own particular homeschool. It’s a way to think through all the components – there are probably more than you realize! – and see what might be the triggers tripping us up. It’s a way to evaluate our situations and see our strengths and our progress instead of simply feeling our defeats. It’s a way of looking at any defeats squarely and deciding what to do about them – and the thing to do might simply be to stop expecting ourselves to be perfect and always on top of every detail.
A homeschool brain dump – an audit – is a way to work through the mess of our emotional or even hormonal responses and think more straightforwardly and honestly and bravely about what’s actually working and what’s not.
Be brave. Do a homeschool audit. You might be surprised at the results.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean40247SO007: Why clean the house?https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so007/
Mon, 17 Oct 2016 11:16:07 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=5910<p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 2: Motivation to Clean We need a reason to clean. I enjoy organizing. I hate cleaning. I dislike laundry. I sigh at dishes to be done. I delegate dishwasher duties to children because I feel such things are beneath me. I feel imposed upon … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so007/" aria-label="SO007: Why clean the house?">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so007/">SO007: Why clean the house?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!We need a reason to clean.<br />
<br />
I enjoy organizing. I hate cleaning. I dislike laundry. I sigh at dishes to be done. I delegate dishwasher duties to children because I feel such things are beneath me. I feel imposed upon by the housework, but I love the house and the family. However, love of the home and hatred of cleaning the home can’t coexist. The two are inconsistent.<br />
<br />
I spent a considerable amount of time believing that housekeeping, especially repetitive chores, does not really matter, and had to take a somewhat long and painful route to realize that it does.<br />
<br />
To make a home, we have to keep a house.<br />
<br />
Find out more at http://www.simplifiedorganization.com/audioMystie Wincklerclean5:375910SO006 | Interval Planning: Grow your capacity.https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so006/
Mon, 03 Oct 2016 09:44:20 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=5810<p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 1: Interval Planning Increase your capabilities with interval planning. The problem with much of the productivity and planning advice out there is that it begins with a vision for a 5-year outcome. When we as mothers at home try to do that, we are … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so006/" aria-label="SO006 | Interval Planning: Grow your capacity.">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so006/">SO006 | Interval Planning: Grow your capacity.</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 1: Interval Planning
Increase your capabilities with interval planning.
The problem with much of the productivity and planning advice out there is that it begins with a vision for a 5-year outcome. When we as mothers at home try to do that, we are rather at a loss. We might not even know how many children we’ll have in 5 years. If your oldest is 5, you’re not likely to accurately foresee what it’s like to have a 10 year old – and the same is true if your oldest is 10 and you’re trying to predict 15.
We have to put one foot in front of the other where we are, and not get too wrapped up in predictions and visions. We should have a general direction, but we don’t know how that will play out.
Rather than try to shoot for some 5-year outcome, we should have a general purpose and direction (this comes by knowing your vocations) and then make a short-term plan.
Make a plan that is only 6-12 weeks in breadth. We can work toward ends in a chunk that small. The ends might not be as exciting as a grand 5-year vision, but that’s because it’s actually realistic – looking at that shorter amount of time allows you to make smart and meaningful choices about what’s best to do next.
We can grow and develop and mature and become better at fulfilling our duties, but it will take time and effort.

Read the original post here:Interval Planning for Growth
Download the free interval planning guide.
Follow the bibliographic trail
These are the books that inspired me to plan in short bursts rather than with long-term goal setting.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:465810SC006: The Best Teacherhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc006/
Wed, 28 Sep 2016 09:51:35 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14292<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! repetitio mater memoriae, or Repetition Season 1: Education is For Life This Latin motto, which apparently is used within the Latin classroom primarily and not embraced as a defining motto like the others so … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc006/" aria-label="SC006: The Best Teacher">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc006/">SC006: The Best Teacher</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!
repetitio mater memoriae, or RepetitionSeason 1: Education is For Life
This Latin motto, which apparently is used within the Latin classroom primarily and not embraced as a defining motto like the others so far, means Repetition is the mother of memory. This is supposed to spur you on to chant those declensions, but I think the truth contained therein should spur us on in much more than language acquisition.
What adjectives do you associate with repetition?
Dullness, boredom, monotony.
What about training, practice, discipline, rehearsal.
Pianists practice the same scales and pieces over and over daily.
Actors rehearse their scenes over and over.
Athletes practice the same drills over and over daily.

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

In the same way, we must repent, pray, read our Bible, speak kindly, admonish, rejoice, give thanks daily, even multiple times daily. We must do so to become good at them, to become fit and trained in holiness, to imitate and glorify our Father.

Simple Sanity Saver: Brain Dump
When does the brilliant idea strike?
When do you remember you’re desperately low on milk?
It’s rarely when you’re actually sitting down, pen in hand, to make a relevant list.
But if you don’t write it down right away, it’s gone.
Hence, the need for ubiquitous capture.
Ubiquitous capture is a term from David Allen’s Getting Things Done that basically means you should always have a way to write down, right away, any information you need to have rather than assuming you’ll remember it or remember to write it down later.

* If an event or plan is mentioned, put it on the calendar right then.
* If I pull out the last bag of flour, add it to the grocery list immediately.
* If I say I’ll bring something to someplace, make that note.
* If I realize I need to do this or that, get it into Remember the Milk right away.

My personal ability to keep any information or reminders in my head has been practically nil the last few years, so I’ll be following the advice in Getting Things Done:

These collection tools should become part of your lifestyle. Keep them close by so no matter where you are you can collect a potentially valuable thought — think of them as being as indispensable a...]]>Mystie Wincklerclean40238SO005 | Interval Planning: An example holiday planhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so005/
Mon, 26 Sep 2016 09:37:43 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=5807<p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 1: Interval Planning Test out interval planning for Christmas preparations. I’m a proponent of making short-term plans and goals – ones that can be tracked and kept top-of-mind easily. I call it ‘interval planning’ because I think it’s like interval training: Go all out … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so005/" aria-label="SO005 | Interval Planning: An example holiday plan">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so005/">SO005 | Interval Planning: An example holiday plan</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 1: Interval Planning
Test out interval planning for Christmas preparations.
I’m a proponent of making short-term plans and goals – ones that can be tracked and kept top-of-mind easily. I call it ‘interval planning’ because I think it’s like interval training: Go all out for a short amount of time, then take a rest period, and you’ll progress more than if you just slog through at a consistent but slower rate.
The holidays provide a perfect example of and opportunity for an interval plan. Christmas is six weeks out, and then there’s a week afterward that is perfect for taking a break week.
Then, if you find intervals work for you, you can move into the new year with a new strategy.

Read the original post here:An Interval Plan for the Holidays
I received this email from a Simplified Organization member last week:
Try it out for yourself!
Download the free interval planning guide.
Follow the bibliographic trail
These are the books that inspired me to plan in short bursts rather than with long-term goal setting.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:305807SC005: Living from Resthttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc005/
Wed, 21 Sep 2016 09:00:00 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14284<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! cum dignitate otium, or Sabbath Season 1: Education is For Life So, I discovered that otium was the Latin word for leisure, and although I have not encountered it in education talks, it seems … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc005/" aria-label="SC005: Living from Rest">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc005/">SC005: Living from Rest</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!
cum dignitate otium, or SabbathSeason 1: Education is For Life
So, I discovered that otium was the Latin word for leisure, and although I have not encountered it in education talks, it seems to have been the word used by philosophers to mean precisely what Pieper in Leisure, the Basis of Culture was trying to convey: that to truly cultivate arts – including those of reading, thinking, and discussing – we must have a space apart from the cares of marketing, buying, and selling.
Otium – leisure – can mean idle amusement. Just as our word leisure can be used to talk about watching tv at night, so otium could carry similar connotations of mere unproductiveness. The phrase otium cum dignitas was a phrase used to distinguish the kind of leisure being discussed. It is a leisure that is with dignity, not a leisure of sloth or indolence. That is, it is a leisure characterized by worthiness, appropriateness, propriety, nobility, dignity, and self-respect.
In the classical world, otium cum dignities meant one had time apart from an income-earning job to read, think, discuss, and participate in politics. Such a state was either a retirement earned after a lifetime of occupation or came as a result of inheritance.
Cicero defines otium as a state of security and peace, of tranquility of mind, which is cultivated when one is not seeking profit and personal gain, but rather contemplating and having a mind at ease.
In the medieval period, this word otium came to be used primarily to indicate peace of mind – a leisure that is internal more than an external circumstance. Petrarch, writing in the 13th century, says that otium is ideally spent on nature appreciation, serious research, meditation, contemplation, writing, and friendship.
So in this phrase we have wrapped up both the concept of a space set apart from economic considerations or “getting ahead” and also the concept that leisure is internal, a way of being. I think we need both meanings in our lives.

P.S. – You also don’t want to miss this Sarah-approved post: 5 Myths on Teaching from Rest
Simple Sanity Saver: Brain Dump
So, after you’ve completed your first, thorough brain dump and started processing it, what’s next? Are you done?
Nope.
Though you’re done with a thorough brain dump, at least until life throws you into the deep end again, you’re not done writing things down.
Once everything is out of your head and on paper, the trick is to just write things down, right away so they never accumulate and clutter up your head again.
I call it Ubiquitous Capture. It’s a habit that pays dividends the more you practice it.
]]>Mystie Wincklerclean40237SO004 | Interval Planning: Keep laser focushttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so004/
Mon, 19 Sep 2016 09:24:31 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=5802<p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 1: Interval Planning Stay focused on what matters. Leverage the interval training technique in your personal life by setting up your calendar in intervals and planning goals accordingly. Planning and executing in short-term bursts is a great way to keep laser focus and high … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so004/" aria-label="SO004 | Interval Planning: Keep laser focus">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so004/">SO004 | Interval Planning: Keep laser focus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 1: Interval Planning
Stay focused on what matters.
Leverage the interval training technique in your personal life by setting up your calendar in intervals and planning goals accordingly. Planning and executing in short-term bursts is a great way to keep laser focus and high energy. By always keeping short deadlines and tackling manageable chunks, you can avoid overwhelm and procrastination.
As you make your plan, look at your calendar and the season and be realistic. It’s really easy to leave out projects you’re committed to because you aren’t counting them as projects. Don’t “assume” projects – they all have to be on the plan. Even kids’ birthdays have to be accounted for (or anything that requires gift buying), at least on the tasks list if not the project list.
If it must happen this interval, then it must be on your list.

Read the original post here:Interval Planning: Keeping Laser Focus
Download the free interval planning guide.
Follow the bibliographic trail
These are the books that inspired me to plan in short bursts rather than with long-term goal setting.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean4:435802SC004: Seeking or Seeming?https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc004-seeking-seeming/
Wed, 14 Sep 2016 09:20:00 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14206<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! esse quam videri, or Virtue Season 1: Education is For Life Would we rather look good than be good, than do what is right? What if we prioritized being and doing good over looking … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc004-seeking-seeming/" aria-label="SC004: Seeking or Seeming?">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc004-seeking-seeming/">SC004: Seeking or Seeming?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!
esse quam videri, or VirtueSeason 1: Education is For Life
Would we rather look good than be good, than do what is right? What if we prioritized being and doing good over looking good? And I’m not talking about makeup. It is simpler and more immediately rewarding to have people think we are good than to expend the effort and rise to the challenge of really pursuing virtue, regardless of people’s opinion of us.
At the park with our children, is it more important to us that we appear like good moms or that we actually do what our children need us to do, regardless of what the other park moms think?
When having people over, do we care more about making it seem like we have our act together or actually have our act together enough to prioritize keeping in fellowship with our children over conquering the dust, fingerprints, and crumbs, if we have to choose.
Being and doing good does not always give us the payoff of looking good, actually. If we must choose, which will we choose? Being or seeming?
Yet, actually having these virtues is hard work. Seeming to have them is easier than actually having them. Seeming to have them will make us more popular than actually having them, than actually obeying God’s commands.
To be virtuous, rather than simply seem so, will require diligence and perseverance in the midst of adversity. Virtue isn’t a magic trait that smooths paths and makes life soft and easy. Rather, the opposite is more true. Virtue is forged in the furnace of trial and temptation.
You can’t have courage without fear. You can’t have patience without trial. You can’t have self-control without warring desires. Virtue is a fruit God grows in us through adversity.

Simple Sanity Saver: Brain Dump
So you have a thorough brain dump. You have deleted what you can. Now you have a collection of things that you think maybe you should trash and maybe you should save. How do you make that call?
Start a fresh list. Make two columns. One column is Discuss and the other is SomedayMaybe. As you flip through your brain spillage, move onto the clean list in the SomedayMaybe column projects, goals, hopes, etc that you can’t do now, but you’d like to do in the future. Once they’re on the new list, cross them out of your brain dump notebook so you don’t need to filter them visually again when you go through for the important things. If you have items in your brain dump that you can’t decide about, if you aren’t sure if it’s an unrealistic expectation or just a hard truth. If you aren’t sure sure if you should be doing this or concerned about that, add it to the Discuss column and cross it off the brain dump.
Those issues that make it to the discuss column are now your agenda items. One by one over time or in a big heart-to-heart session,]]>Mystie Wincklerclean40234SO003 | Interval Planning: Take a restful breakhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so003/
Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:00:00 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=5773<p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 1: Interval Planning You need a break. Breaking up your year into intervals is a simple way to sharpen your focus and stay engaged with projects and the things that need to be done to keep life at home rolling along. Instead of looking … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so003/" aria-label="SO003 | Interval Planning: Take a restful break">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so003/">SO003 | Interval Planning: Take a restful break</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 1: Interval Planning
You need a break.
Breaking up your year into intervals is a simple way to sharpen your focus and stay engaged with projects and the things that need to be done to keep life at home rolling along. Instead of looking ahead over an entire year and making goals, try looking only at the next six weeks. What has to happen in the next six weeks? That’s a lot more clear usually.
The truth is, you don’t know what your life will be like in another 12 months, or even 6. Especially if you are still in the phase where your family is young and growing, you might not know if you’ll be pregnant, what the toddler’s nap routine will be like, and a million other variables. Instead of trying to control the details and plan out your life for an entire year (or more!), look at the next 6 weeks and determine what is most important in the phase that you are actually in right now rather than where you hope to be in the future. Faithfulness happens in the now, not the future, and God works with us where we are, not where we should be or want to be.
So embrace the now and work with it. Live it. And know that you’ll be able to handle the unpredictability of life by applying faithfulness and obedience as you go along.

Read the original post here:Interval Planning: Don’t Skip the Rest Period
Download the free interval planning guide
Follow the bibliographic trail
These are the books that inspired me to plan in short bursts rather than with long-term goal setting.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:265773SO002 | Interval Planning: Making an Interval Planhttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so002/
Tue, 13 Sep 2016 11:17:13 +0000https://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=5760<p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Season 1: Interval Planning Make interval plans work for you. Use the theory behind interval training to maximize your planning effectiveness. Just as runners train and gain strength and endurance by running in short, intense bursts and then going at a slower pace for awhile, … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so002/" aria-label="SO002 | Interval Planning: Making an Interval Plan">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/so002/">SO002 | Interval Planning: Making an Interval Plan</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simplified Organization Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Mondays, this podcast gives you short and punchy action items and mindset resets. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!Season 1: Interval Planning
Make interval plans work for you.
Use the theory behind interval training to maximize your planning effectiveness. Just as runners train and gain strength and endurance by running in short, intense bursts and then going at a slower pace for awhile, so we can follow the same pattern in our day-to-day lives.
Breaking up your year into intervals, with rest periods in between, is a great way to keep your head wrapped around what you have to do and also keep up your energy as you do them. Planning for a space of time that is long enough to complete a small project or at least accomplish milestones in a large project helps you retain focus and the benefits of deadlines and end-of-season pushes that usually only happen at the end of school years, fiscal years, or calendar years. You never get to slump into the “I have plenty of time” mentality as is so easy come February for those annual goals.
Deadlines motivate, and intervals are a way to consistently bring deadlines to bear, increasing our self-discipline and effectiveness in the things that matter to us.

Read the original post here:Making an interval plan work for you
Download the free interval planning guide
Follow the bibliographic trail
These are the books that inspired me to plan in short bursts rather than with long-term goal setting.

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean6:485760SC003: A Life of Repentancehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc003/
Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:14:37 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14194<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Fortiter fideliter forsan feliciter, or Repentance Season 1: Education is For Life This motto keyed into a vague notion I’ve been pondering lately: The idea of focusing more on the process, on doing what … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc003/" aria-label="SC003: A Life of Repentance">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc003/">SC003: A Life of Repentance</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!
Fortiter fideliter forsan feliciter, or RepentanceSeason 1: Education is For Life
This motto keyed into a vague notion I’ve been pondering lately: The idea of focusing more on the process, on doing what I should do, and leaving the results, the outcome, to God. The world recommends setting SMART (specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, timely) goals, where the focus is on achieving measurable results. But, doesn’t the Bible focus more on obedience and trust? And aren’t so many of the things we strive for as mothers and home-educators not exactly measurable?
Yes, getting dinner on the table or taking the kids to the dentist could be accomplished as a SMART goal, but these things are small parts of a bigger vision and goal that is not at all measurable, not even all that specific, and much too long-term to be “timely”: raising healthy, happy, godly children.
The motto means “bravely, faithfully, perhaps successfully.” What I love about this motto is the reminder that so often the results are not in our hands. We are called to obey faithfully, but God gives the increase – in His time, in His way – and it often doesn’t look like what we expected. We can’t control how things will work out, but we can control whether or not we obey, right here, right now. We can trust that God will work it all out in the end.

Simple Sanity Saver: Brain Dump
Once you have a full brain dump, you have a clear head, but you also have a notebook full of random bits – some vitally important and some trivial. Now what? Now you process. Before you can process, you need to have a planning system in place so that you can trust you won’t lose that vitally important information. In short, you need a reliable calendar, a place for notes that you actually look at, and a habit for working through task lists. Work the Plan walks you through setting up these systems and building the habits of using them if you need further help there. Processing the brain dump will also take multiple sessions over the course of a week or more. It’s sort of like you’ve totally emptied a closet (your brain) and now you have a pile of treasures and junk heaped up in front of you. It’s time to sort through it and figure out what you’re going to keep and what you’re going to throw away.
So the best first processing step with your brain dump is to go through with a black pen and delete. Toss the trash. Delete the unrealistic expectations. Cross off the worries. Let go of the outside pressures.
Delete whatever you can. If you aren’t sure you should delete it or if you just aren’t ready to, there’s another option. We’ll cover that in the next sanity saver segment.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean40233SC002: Daily Faithfulnesshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc002/
Tue, 06 Sep 2016 14:55:50 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14189<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! Festina Lente, or Faithfulness Season 1: Education is For Life This phrase, Festina Lente, juxtaposes both briskness and plodding. We should make haste because we should not be stagnant or lethargic, but we also … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc002/" aria-label="SC002: Daily Faithfulness">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc002/">SC002: Daily Faithfulness</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!
Festina Lente, or FaithfulnessSeason 1: Education is For Life
This phrase, Festina Lente, juxtaposes both briskness and plodding. We should make haste because we should not be stagnant or lethargic, but we also should go forward slowly because, as Erasmus put it,

Things that are foreseen and provided for by slow and gentle forethought are safer than what is hurried into action by hot and hasty heads.

So the maxim of festina lente opposes both laziness and impulsiveness. It requires both action and thought. It steers us from both sides of the ditch.
Faithfulness doesn’t imply large, impressive deeds. Faithfulness is all about doing what’s in front of you – your own duty, however humble that is – reliably and earnestly. Faithfulness does not evaluate how a duty ranks in the public eye or whether or not the duty will earn credit; faithfulness steadily fulfills its calling.

“So that kings [mothers] would commit nothing through rashness they would regret, nor pass over through laziness anything that would tend to the well-being of the state [home], I ask you, what could be more prosperous, better grounded, and more stable than this kind of rule?” – Erasmus

Simple Sanity Saver: Brain Dump
I first learned about brain dumps from David Allen’s time management classic, Getting Things Done. In it, he recommends executives block off an hour or two on a Friday, follow his prompts, and totally clear their heads of all the random tights and concerns. That’s simply not feasible for the typical homeschooling mom. Our time is largely spoken for and any uninterrupted time is precious and scarce.
Instead of trying to find a magical few hours to totally clear our heads, we need to simply turn to our brain dump in the margins, in the spare moments here and there, in the midst of the hustle and bustle.
Keep the brain dump notebook handy with a pen and spend a few minutes in the morning, some time over lunch, a bit in the evening, and wherever you have a few moments in the day and jot down as much as you can about all the things rattling around in your head.
It might take two weeks or even a month to wok through the prompts and spill it all onto paper, but that’s ok. Some time to peel back the layers will likely ensure its a more thorough brain dump. Take your time and do your best to get all your obligations, ideas, concerns, goals, nagging suspicions, and hopes and dreams written down so you can use your mind to think about them rather than hold and juggle them.
If you need help and tips for your brain dump, click the link below for the free brain dump guide which includes prompts as well as instructions and more.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!
]]>Mystie Wincklerclean40232SC001: The Simple Lifehttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc001/
Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:28:23 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=14174<p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks! multum non multa, or Simplicity Season 1: Education is For Life The principles that we base our education upon are the same principles we can base our home routines, our activity choices, and our … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc001/" aria-label="SC001: The Simple Life">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2016/sc001/">SC001: The Simple Life</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Welcome to The Simply Convivial Audio Blog! Releasing weekly on Wednesdays, this podcast brings you short & meaty focus sessions to help you keep your head in the game as a classical homeschool mom. Check out the podcast page here and please leave a re...podcast page here and please leave a review. Thanks!
multum non multa, or SimplicitySeason 1: Education is For Life
The principles that we base our education upon are the same principles we can base our home routines, our activity choices, and our personal goals upon. These are truly principle principles, first things, foundational things.
Another way the Latin phrase multum non multa can be translated is ‘not quantity but quality.’ This sentiment is one that has several traditional English proverbs, as well: Quality over quantity, and less is more.
The principle tells us that we should privilege depth and quality over breadth and quantity. It means that it is ok to say no to good things when we realize that saying yes would diminish the quality and depth of the good things we are already committed to. It helps us recognize and be content with our finiteness.
Read the original post: The Simple Life, multum non multa
Listen:

Simple Sanity Saver: Brain Dump
A brain dump is simply writing down whatever is piling up in your head when you start to feel a little crazy, a little overwhelmed, a little swamped. And if you’re feeling a lot swamped, a brain dump is essential! When you write it all down on paper, you move it from the ethereal realm where it’s vague obligation and stress to concrete words on paper you can deal with. When it’s written down, you can better see what’s bothering you and instead of using your mind to hold details and try to remember things, you can use your mind to actually think about those details and make solid decisions. Putting things down onto paper clears the space in your head. A brain dump is not a to do list. A brain dump is just a collection. You might move things from your brain dump notebook to a to do list, but you might also – and probably should also – move things from your brain dump notebook into the trash.
Whenever you start to feel like you just can’t juggle everything, try grabbing a piece of paper and writing down all that makes up your everything you’re trying to juggle. You’re sure to have some ah-ha moments.
Spread the word!Leaving a review on iTunes will help other homeschooling moms discover this podcast!

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean40231Realistic Goal Setting: Interval Traininghttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2014/realistic-goal-setting-interval-training/
Fri, 25 Apr 2014 01:00:00 +0000http://www.simplifiedorganization.com/?p=144<p>Often when we plan out our goals, we think in year-long chunks of time, either personal goals in January or academic goals in August. If you’ve ever done this, perhaps you’ve noticed that it’s really difficult to keep those goals. A cycle I’m familiar with goes like this: Commit to a huge life-overhaul, personal transformation sort of goal for the year. Go for it gung-ho for two or three weeks in January. Burn out in February. Forget about it in … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2014/realistic-goal-setting-interval-training/" aria-label="Realistic Goal Setting: Interval Training">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2014/realistic-goal-setting-interval-training/">Realistic Goal Setting: Interval Training</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Often when we plan out our goals, we think in year-long chunks of time, either personal goals in January or academic goals in August. If you’ve ever done this, perhaps you’ve noticed that it’s really difficult to keep those goals.
* Commit to a huge life-overhaul, personal transformation sort of goal for the year.
* Go for it gung-ho for two or three weeks in January.
* Burn out in February.
* Forget about it in March.
* Remember and try again in April.
* Be hit-or-miss in May.
* Get distracted in June.
* Remember again in August and try hard.
* Have too many other things on my plate in September.
* Remember in late October.
* Feel like it’s too late now.
* Give up until January.

This year, I’ve found an way to avoid this cycle, to keep motivated, and to have goals while remaining flexible.

Intervals.
Interval, noun

* an intervening time or space
* a pause; a break in activity
* a space between two things; a gap.

Listen to this article:
Intervals have two components: a period of focused, intense activity and a pause or space between the bursts. The applications for intervals are broad, and usually not applied to planning or goal setting.
Interval Exercise
When I’m trying to lose weight and get back into shape after having a baby, I turn to the couch-to-5k program. It’s an easy way to do interval training, which gives you the greatest results for the least amount of work. The idea behind intervals is that you work at your highest capacity, giving all you got, for a very short amount of time. Then you have a recovery period. You alternate periods of intense effort and recovery. When you exercise this way, you boost your metabolism and achieve longer afterburn than with any other method.
Interval Programming
Programmers and others in high-tech companies have started implementing this concept in their work environment. They call the intervals “sprints,” and it’s known as Agile Development. The idea instead of spending a huge amount of time and money on upfront engineering-like design of software and continual documentation along the way, they roll out software that meets the requirements as soon as possible, then debug and add features in short sprints – sending out a new version each sprint to keep the software in continual improvement. At the end of every sprint, they also evaluate how they did, where they’re going, and how they can improve not only the software, but also their processes.
Interval Planning
After exercising in intervals and talking to my husband about how his company implements Agile methods, I started wondering if there was a foundational principle I could apply in other areas of my life. I have often heard it said that life is a marathon, not a sprint, but how does one train for a marathon? Through sprints and rests. Even within a marathon (hypothetically for myself), runners will run faster for periods of time and then take a “break” by slowing their speed to catch their breath and build up stamina for another burst.
So why not apply those same principles to how we plan and work out our plans? Interval planning to the rescue.
Learn how to make an interval plan
In this series, which will run on Fridays through May, I’ll talk about each of these components of an interval plan.Components of an Interval Plan

]]>Mystie Wincklerclean5:15144Daily Faithfulnesshttps://www.simplyconvivial.com/2013/education-is-a-life-festina-lente-or-faithfulness/
Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:00:00 +0000https://www.simplyconvivial.com/?p=4303<p>Festina Lente, or Faithfulness part of the Education Is for Life series This series was inspired by Chrisopher Perrin’s great webinars on the principles of classical education. One of my favorites so far was his “deep dive” into the principle Festina Lente. Erasmus wrote of this proverb in his Adagia: If you weigh carefully the force and the sentiment of our proverb, its succinct brevity, how fertile it is, how serious, how beneficial, how applicable to every activity of life, … <a class="kt-excerpt-readmore" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2013/education-is-a-life-festina-lente-or-faithfulness/" aria-label="Daily Faithfulness">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com/2013/education-is-a-life-festina-lente-or-faithfulness/">Daily Faithfulness</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.simplyconvivial.com">Simply Convivial</a>.</p>Festina Lente, or Faithfulness part of the Education Is for Life series This series was inspired by Chrisopher Perrin’s great webinars on the principles of classical education. One of my favorites so far was his “deep dive” into the principle Festina L...
part of the Education Is for Life series
This series was inspired by Chrisopher Perrin’s great webinars on the principles of classical education. One of my favorites so far was his “deep dive” into the principle Festina Lente.
Erasmus wrote of this proverb in his Adagia:

If you weigh carefully the force and the sentiment of our proverb, its succinct brevity, how fertile it is, how serious, how beneficial, how applicable to every activity of life, you will easily come to the opinion that among the huge number of sayings you will find none of greater dignity.

So, let’s apply this motto maybe not to every activity of life, but at least those that make up a large percentage of our days. These principles are for life – not just for schooling.
I must admit, though, I was tempted to veer into school talk when I read Erasmus’ essay on Festina Lente, because he clearly sides with a “better late than early” mindset. If you’ve ever been tempted toward an “accelerated” mindset, read sections 28 & 29 in this short essay and be encouraged to not push your children before they are ready – early academics is not classical.
Listen to this post:
Festina Lente
This phrase, Festina Lente, juxtaposes both briskness and plodding. We should make haste because we should not be stagnant or lethargic, but we also should go forward slowly because, as Erasmus put it,

Things that are foreseen and provided for by slow and gentle forethought are safer than what is hurried into action by hot and hasty heads.

So the maxim of festina lente opposes both laziness and impulsiveness. It requires both action and thought. It steers us from both sides of the ditch.
Faithfulness
A poem Cindy Rollins through the years has oft quoted is

Little drops of water,

little grains of sand,

make the mighty ocean

and the beauteous land.
And the little moments,

humble though they may be,

make the mighty ages

of eternity.

Most of what we as mothers do all day are little grains of sand: read a book, correct a child, make a meal, sweep a floor, change a diaper. Our days are full of small tasks, but their smallness does not mean they are insignificant. It is in these ways that we love our families.
I think that the English word that summarizes this Latin motto is faithfulness:

Faithfulness doesn’t imply large, impressive deeds. Faithfulness is all about doing what’s in front of you – your own duty, however humble that is – reliably and earnestly. Faithfulness does not evaluate how a duty ranks in the public eye or whether or not the duty will earn credit; faithfulness steadily fulfills its calling.

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2, ESV)

Faithfulness at Home
To make haste slowly in the home, I think, is to embrace routine, embrace maintenance, embrace the ongoing nature of the task.]]>Mystie Wincklerclean14:5140111